BLOG TOUR - Their Monstrous Hearts
- Kindig
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
THEIR MONSTROUS HEARTS
YIGIT TURHAN
Harlequin - MIRA have very kindly asked me to participate in their blog tour for Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan which comes out TODAY! Just look at that beautiful cover - I couldn't resist! I'll start by telling you all about the book and the author and then share my review!
THE BOOK
A haunting novel about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive.
A mysterious stranger shows up at Riccardo’s apartment with some news: his grandmother Perihan has died, and Riccardo has inherited her villa in Milan along with her famed butterfly collection.
The struggling writer is out of options. He’s hoping the change of scenery in Milan will inspire him, and maybe there will be some money to keep him afloat. But Perihan’s house isn’t as opulent as he remembers. The butterflies pinned in their glass cases seem more ominous than artful. Perihan’s group of mysterious old friends is constantly lurking. And there’s something wrong in the greenhouse.
As Riccardo explores the decrepit estate, he stumbles upon Perihan’s diary, which might hold the key to her mysterious death. Or at least give him the inspiration he needs to finish his manuscript.
But he might not survive long enough to write it.
THE AUTHOR
Yigit Turhan was born in Ankara, Turkey. A lifelong reader, he owes his love of horror to his grandmother and the films she shared with him. He has previously published a horror novel in Turkish. He lives in Milan, Italy, where he holds a C-suite role at a renowned fashion house. This is his English-language debut.
MY REVIEW
***
I loved the beautiful cover for Their Monstrous Hearts and it sounded like an intriguing premise, so I was excited to request and read it!
When Riccardo learns he has inherited his grandmother’s mansion and butterfly collection, he hurries over to Milan. However, when a mysterious diary appears and his grandmother’s friends seem to be holding secrets, he starts to wonder what legacy he has inherited.
Their Monstrous Hearts uses a narrative technique that I’ve seen used quite a lot in my 2025 reading – present day narrative interspliced with diary entries from the past. Riccardo is reading the diary in the present day which tells the story of his grandmother’s life and her adventures with the butterflies. This technique fell a little flat for me, as most of the present-day text is rendered obsolete if Riccardo had just read the diary a little faster and in one sitting. I also found that the chapters alternated without any real signposting that you were now in the diary entry – having them in italics or including chapter headings would have really helped with this.
I loved the premise of the book - without giving too much away the butterfly aspect and what people would do to hold on to the power was unusual and interesting. I really enjoyed the ending, and this really saved the book for me. However, I found the writing in the middle quite repetitive and slow. I didn’t really feel any proper stakes or tension in the present-day text and the flashbacks took too long establishing character rather than moving the story along. Speaking of characters, I also feel that we didn’t get to know Riccardo as much as I would have liked and so I didn’t feel particularly invested in his story.
Overall, Their Monstrous Hearts is an unusual and interesting premise, but it’s writing style sadly let it down. Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin – Mira for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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