(Mostly) Human Resources
A Novel
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A debut slow-burn work-nemesis romance set in a world where cryptids and monsters are a part of life . . . and someone has to do the paperwork.
Working in human resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the private company that categorizes and manages the world’s cryptids. But after her dad was killed on the job as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy . . . from the safety of a desk. Alexys dreams of climbing the corporate ladder while managing the Appalachian Wardens and sparring with Nic, the frustrating (and annoyingly attractive) Director of Research and Cataloging.
When one of Alexys’s new Wardens goes missing after inquiring about a mysterious and highly dangerous monster, her chances of promotion disappear along with him. Determined to save her career—and to shield the Warden’s family from the trauma she experienced after losing her father on the job—she marches off into the monster-infested wilderness to find him herself.
Meanwhile, Nic, with ambitions of becoming the youngest Entity employee to discover a new monster, follows Alexys on her hunt. But the work nemeses are about to discover why the Appalachian Mountains are the last place you want to find yourself after dark. Among mountains older than bones, the jackalopes and ghouls are the least of their worries . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Viall's entertaining but disjointed debut starts off slowly as a paranormal office rom-com before taking a dramatic turn for the creepy. Nightmare-plagued Alexys Keane has a satisfying career in human resources for Entity, the company in charge of tracking and controlling cryptids and monsters across the U.S. Responsible for the cryptid Wardens of District 13, which covers much of the Appalachian region, Alexys finds the worst she has to deal with is paperwork and her office nemesis Nic Dyre, Entity's bookish director of research and cataloging. But when one of Alexys's Wardens vanishes in the West Virginia mountains while chasing a uniquely dangerous cryptid, she heads into the field to find him. Much to her annoyance, Nic joins her. The tonal shift is jarring but welcome, with the plot hitting its stride as their journey into the cryptid-infested woods takes increasingly dangerous turns. As they encounter legendary monsters, Alexys and Nic develop a deeper bond, but it may not be enough to save them when they discover what really lurks in the shadows. Though there's chemistry between the leads, the romance subplot feels uneven thanks to their incessant bickering and the compressed timeline of their relationship. More successful are the horror elements and the ending sets things up nicely for a sequel. Readers who stick with this through the rocky start will be curious to see where Viall goes next.
