🗡️ Dark Fantasy

Once Upon a Time in Monto

✍️ B C Hollywood
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$14.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A Victorian Dublin horror novel about three characters entangled in dark conspiracies.

This volume continues The Darkle Chronicles by B C Hollywood, focusing on the Monto district of Dublin in 1888. The plot follows Lorcan Crowley, Fea Murrigan, and Fiachra Mactire as their lives intersect within a landscape defined by ancient bloodlines and dark forces. The narrative explores themes of death, escape, and freedom against a backdrop of werewolves and demons. Hollywood uses the historical setting to examine how these supernatural elements influence human destiny. The story does not offer easy resolutions for its protagonists, who remain trapped in cycles of violence and secrecy. This entry provides a specific view into the grim realities of the red-light district during the late nineteenth century.

Key Themes
Victorian Dublin ancient bloodlines dark conspiracies
Literary Context

The book is set in 1888 Dublin, specifically within the Monto red-light district. This period and location provide a historical framework for exploring supernatural horror elements like werewolves and demons within a gritty, gaslit urban environment.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
M.R. James · H.P. Lovecraft · Sheridan Le Fanu
🗡️
Dark Fantasy
🏛 Unseelie Court Press 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781068675720
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: Once Upon a Time in Monto

B C Hollywood presents a Victorian horror narrative set in Dublin during 1888. The story focuses on the Monto red-light district, revealing sinister truths hidden within its shadowed alleys. Three central characters drive the plot: Lorcan Crowley, who desires death; Fea Murrigan, who attempts escape but remains ensnared; and Fiachra Mactire, who seeks freedom from The Sisters. Their paths cross amidst dark conspiracies and ancient bloodlines that collide in the grimy streets. The narrative operates as Book II of The Darkle Chronicles, continuing a series established by the author. Hollywood structures the tale around the intersection of these fates, blending elements of werewolves, demons, and dark machinations into a gaslit atmosphere. The text examines how ancient forces manipulate modern lives within this specific historical context. Readers interested in gothic fiction and supernatural horror will find this work relevant. Those preferring light or contemporary settings may not connect with the grim tone. The book offers a concentrated look at survival and struggle against malevolent secrets.

💎 Our verdict on Once Upon a Time in Monto

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Hollywood delivers a potent entry in The Darkle Chronicles that excels at blending historical realism with supernatural terror. The text effectively uses the Monto district’s shadowed alleys to create a claustrophobic atmosphere where ancient bloodlines dictate modern fates. The narrative avoids easy resolutions, trapping protagonists like Lorcan and Fea in cycles of violence, which lends a brutal authenticity to the horror. This approach suits readers who value atmospheric depth over plot convenience. While the grim tone may alienate those preferring contemporary settings, it is a triumph for aficionados of Victorian-era gothic fiction and cosmic dread.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the atmospheric density of gothic fiction and the psychological weight of cosmic horror will find this volume compelling. It offers a grim, unflinching look at survival against ancient malevolence, appealing to those who enjoy narratives where destiny is manipulated by unseen forces. The book is ideal for enthusiasts of dark fantasy who do not shy away from cycles of violence and secrecy. Those seeking escape in light-hearted tales will find the tone too oppressive, but fans of grim realities and historical supernatural intrigue will gain a deep appreciation for the intersection of human struggle and demonic machinations.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Hollywood delivers a potent entry in The Darkle Chronicles that excels at blending historical realism with supernatural terror. The text effectively uses the Monto district’s shadowed alleys to create a claustrophobic atmosphere where ancient bloodlines dictate modern fates. The narrative avoids easy resolutions, trapping protagonists like Lorcan and Fea in cycles of violence, which lends a brutal authenticity to the horror. This approach suits readers who value atmospheric depth over plot convenience. While the grim tone may alienate those preferring contemporary settings, it is a triumph for aficionados of Victorian-era gothic fiction and cosmic dread.

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