Monsterland Below is an action-packed YA fantasy novel paying homage to classic monsters in a post-apocalyptic setting.

The third in a series, it follows teenagers Howard and Wyatt as they head to Los Angeles after the destruction of Cooper Valley, their hometown, and eventually join with a mysterious leader’s military-style gang and a group of oddly tall young women with strange abilities.

Meanwhile, Howard and Wyatt’s friend Melvin, now a werewolf, lives contentedly with his wife in the ruins of Monsterland, where a villainous genius had imprisoned many of the world’s monsters before Monsterland was destroyed. An encounter with a monster the villain had been experimenting on forces Melvin to reunite with his friends to eliminate the threat. Simultaneously, a young ship commander hoping to get to know her absent father risks her crew’s life to capture a sea monster at his request.

The novel is filled with action and suspense, from zombie attacks and gangs of creepy killer cannibal clowns to the main villain, who has maniacal plans to rule the world. There are also quieter moments, as when Howard and Wyatt reflect on their new reality.

Melvin’s development is fascinating as he moves from an awkward young man, insecure with his beautiful wife, to a determined leader, uniting werewolves to fight with humans against the villain. Monster and horror movie fans will enjoy nods to The Blob, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Rosemary’s Baby, and It.

While knowledge of the previous books is generally not required, some recurring secondary characters have histories and abilities that are confusing without it. Wyatt and Howard’s characterizations can be uneven; sometimes, they seem like hardened adults, other times like bickering children. Some scenes, like the It homage and the Epilogue, feel over-the-top silly, and there are many misused words, such as “it’s” for “its.”

Fortunately, these issues are easy to overlook given the fast-moving plot. Readers seeking an adventure featuring imaginatively drawn monsters will enjoy this novel.

Also available as an ebook.