Of Monsters and Men: Vol. 1 by D.D. Ward

Toy Soldiers: Of Monsters and Men: Vol. 1

D.D. Ward

Independently published (2024)

979-8333670410

Reviewed by Jordan Waterwash for Reader Views (11/2025)

https://readerviews.com/reviews/toy-soldiers-ward/

4/5

As autumn comes to a close and winter appears, I found reading Toy Soldiers: Of Monsters and Men, Vol. 1 by D.D Ward encapsulated the arrival of darker times. The book covers a series of strange events related to large supernatural beings who plague the Earth. Via interludes, the main narrative seeps into every aspect of life outside of the main characters’ spheres of influence. The interludes show the lives of everyday people who have been impacted by the strange goings-on around the globe.

In my own life, I am currently rewatching the X-Files series, and I couldn’t help but think of the show while I was reading Toy Soldiers: Of Monsters and Men. The atmosphere reminded me of those opening sequences before the iconic X-Files theme played: a seemingly normal night transforms into something unbelievable and unexpected in the blink of an eye. The interludes also lent to that feeling; they added a sense of depth to the world. Every event seemed more real because the interludes established the prevalence of the creatures on a global scale. It made everything much more realistic.

That being said, I do think a handful fewer interludes would have benefited the main narrative. The book also utilized QR codes for songs, which, while a timely choice, slightly slowed the reading experience for me. I would have liked the song title to just be mentioned, but that is also a personal preference. However, the single most important improvement would have been a more thorough copyedit.

The intensity of Toy Soldiers was visceral and engaging throughout. By the end, there was enough resolution to keep the reader satisfied while also allowing for some mystery to prompt the reader to pick up the next installment. The world clearly has more story to tell, but the ending of this first volume does feel like a chapter of the narrative has concluded.

Ultimately, Toy Soldiers: Of Monsters and Men by D.D Ward will appeal to those looking for a sci-fi novel that intrigues, horrifies, and takes its inspiration from Greek mythology. Each chapter and interlude builds on the lore and atmosphere in an interesting way, and I’m sure the next installments will do the same.