I was first drawn to this book by the captivating cover, and on reading the synopsis I knew it would make for interesting reading. Lawrence has studied monsters and what they reveal about our understanding of the world, and this volume represents a pithy and enjoyable voyage through their weird and wonderful worlds. Each chapter covers a different archetype, ranging from the minotaur and snake women to dragons of chaos and dinosaurs. As a species we've been drawing monsters for as long as we've been creating cave art, and we are still fascinated by them today as any trip to the cinema will demonstrate. As well as retelling stories of their origins and how they've been viewed throughout history, Lawrence delves into our collective subconscious to demonstrate how monsters have shaped and been shaped by our understandings of our selves and our position in the cosmos. She reveals that far from being mere fantasies, these beasts represent primeval and basal human fears of a variety of subjects, ranging from female sexuality and extinction to our own bestial impulses and what were seen as exotic aspects of unknown lands and people. On the whole, this book offered an enjoyable and wide-ranging overview of our conception of monsters, illustrating why they still persist and terrify us in our supposedly more rational age. It's a perfect read for a spooky autumn evening, as well as an eye-opening dive into some of our oldest and most enduring facets of the imagination.