Nihon Falcom’s action RPG Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an intriguing outlier in the series for its dark gothic inspiration. The world of Ys is certainly worth revisiting for its fantastic characters and world-building, and gamers may do so with a detailed retelling of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox in its official novelization by Anna Kashina and Dragonwell Publishing. The novelization of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a compendium of Adol Christin’s journey in the prison city of Balduq and the surrounding region, expanding upon the player’s journey through Kashina’s faithful interpretation. Its pages are full of insightful lore and dialogue that both emphasizes Adol’s character and brings more life to this particular segment of Adol’s storied life. 

Like the game itself, the novelization begins with Adol’s arrival in Balduq, which is famous for its high security prison under the direct jurisdiction of the Romun Empire. Adol didn’t see his own arrest at the city gates by the prison warden himself coming, and to make matters worse for him, his escape attempt sees him transformed into a Monstrum, a supernatural warrior, by a mysterious woman named Aprilis. This transformation traps Adol in a curse linked to Balduq itself, binding him to an eternal bout in the Grimwald Nox against monsters born from people’s nightmares. 

What makes the story of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox so memorable and different is that Adol is not alone with his curse. Over the story’s course, he’s joined by affluent Pendleton prodigy Krysha, the violent but dutiful Credo, and many other faces who wish to defy their fates as Monstrums together. To break such a curse, Adol must delve into the history of Balduq and its facilities to uncover clues behind the curse while fending off against the nightmares of the Grimwald Nox, with the elusive guidance of Aprilis. It’s a story full of mystery and conspiracy with a darker tone compared to other Ys entries, but it still has those elements of a feel-good story through to the end.

The story of Monstrum Nox is expertly retold by Kashina, and it greatly complements the game. Her retelling of the story brought more attention to detail than I was expecting, too. The novel follows the narrative beats of the game while slightly expanding on more minor details that players are more likely to gloss over while playing the game. When laid out in a book format, it’s clear that the story of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is dense with a lot of characters involved. Reading the novel is also an excellent way to “replay” the story at your own pace, and it makes for a great addition to a late-night reading session.

The physical hardcover version of Monstrum Nox from Dragonwell Publishing is high-quality with officially licensed key art from Falcom. The dust jacket is superb and makes the novel a show piece for any Ys fan’s collection. If I had to pick out one gripe, I would have liked to have seen some all-new original art for this particular release, similarly to light novel adaptations of popular manga and anime.

Overall, I’m really pleased with Monstrum Nox, and I can’t stress enough that you should experience the game itself before diving into the novel. The joy of playing through a Ys game cannot be matched—it’s a unique experience of its own. The novel expands and complements the game’s story and moments in ways you will appreciate if you’ve played the game. I certainly recommend it.

Monstrum Nox is available in hardcover at Ys Books and as an e-Book (Kindle) for $34.95 and $7.95, respectively. The softcover version will release this summer for $19.95.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. Final Weapon reviewed Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and gave it a 4/5 score.