Book of Monsters

I have to admit, when I saw Pragmatic Play was releasing Book of Monsters in 2025, I rolled my eyes a little. Another "Book of" slot? But then I loaded it up, and oh man, the atmosphere just grabbed me by the throat! This isn't your cheesy, cartoonish Halloween slot; it feels like stepping into a dark, gothic graphic novel. The reels are set against this foggy, decrepit graveyard backdrop that actually gave me the chills.

The art style is absolutely top-tier. We're talking high-definition symbols featuring Werewolves, Frankenstein-style creatures, and a seductive Vampire lady that looks like she walked straight out of a horror movie. The colour palette is deep—lots of ominous purples, sickly greens, and blood reds that pop against the dark reels. But what really got my pulse racing was the sound design. It starts with this low, brooding hum, and every time the reels stop, there's a heavy, satisfying thud. When you hit a win, the music swells into this dramatic orchestral piece that makes you feel like you just survived a monster attack. I found myself cranking the volume up just to feel that bass resonate.

If you've played any "Book" style game before, you know the drill, but Book of Monsters refines it to near perfection. We are looking at the classic 5-reel, 3-row setup with 10 fixed paylines. It feels familiar, like slipping on a comfortable pair of old gloves, but the smoothness of the spins is where Pragmatic Play really shows off. There is zero lag; the reels spin with a weight and speed that keeps the adrenaline pumping.

The Symbols

The symbols are where the storytelling happens. The low-paying 10-A royals are styled in a creepy, jagged font, which is a nice touch. But my eyes were glued to the high-value monster symbols. The Explorer character is the highest payer, and hitting a full line of him is the dream. Of course, the star of the show is the Book of Monsters symbol itself.

• The Book: This bad boy pulls double duty as both the Wild and the Scatter. I love this mechanic because it keeps the base game interesting; seeing two Books land makes my heart skip a beat because you know you're just one more away from the bonus, but it also pays out as a Wild to save your spin.

The base game can be a bit of a grind—I'm not going to lie. There were moments where I went 20 spins with nothing but dead air. But that's the nature of the beast (pun intended). When those wins do hit, especially with the high-value monsters, they hit hard, and that sudden rush of coins filling the screen is what keeps me clicking that spin button.

Let's have a serious chat about the math, because this is where you need to be careful with your bankroll. Book of Monsters comes in with an RTP of 95.5%. I'll be honest with you—as a veteran player, seeing anything under 96% makes me wince a little. It's not a dealbreaker, but you can definitely feel that slight edge the house has during long sessions. It means you aren't getting quite as much play time for your CAD as you might on other Pragmatic titles.

However, the High Volatility is the real story here. This game is absolutely ruthless, and I love it for that. I had a session where my balance was bleeding out, Interac deposit after deposit, and I was about to rage-quit. Then, out of nowhere, a massive base game hit brought me right back to even. This slot is designed for thrill-seekers. It's feast or famine. You have to be prepared for the dry spells, because the game is hoarding that RTP for the massive 5,000x potential in the bonus rounds. If you prefer slow and steady wins, this might stress you out, but if you live for that "one big spin" feeling like I do, the volatility is perfect.

This is it. This is why we play. The Free Spins round in Book of Monsters is pure, unadulterated excitement. You need to land 3 or more Book Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. I swear, every time I saw two Books land, I found myself holding my breath, pleading with the screen for that third one. When it finally hits, the animation is spectacular—the book opens, pages flip rapidly, and it selects your Special Expanding Symbol.

The Expanding Mechanic

You get 10 Free Spins to start. During these spins, if your special symbol lands on enough reels to form a win, it expands vertically to cover the entire reel. The best part? They don't need to be adjacent! You could land a symbol on reels 1, 3, and 5, and they still pay out like a full combo.

I had one session where the game selected the high-paying Werewolf as my symbol. I was down to my last 3 free spins, feeling disappointed, when suddenly four Werewolves landed. The screen shook, the symbols expanded, and the win counter just kept climbing and climbing. It was a "lean back and scream" moment! The rush of seeing a full screen of matching symbols is unmatched. Plus, you can re-trigger the bonus by landing 3 more Books, which actually happened to me once, adding 10 more spins and extending the adrenaline rush. It's simple, classic, but absolutely electric.

Look, with high volatility and that 95.5% RTP, you cannot go into this game blind. You need to respect the Monster. My biggest piece of advice for my fellow Canadians: budget for at least 150-200 spins. If you deposit $50 and bet $2 a spin, you're going to have a bad time. You need to weather the storm to reach those free spins.

• Bet Sizing: I usually start with smaller bets (around $0.40 or $0.60 CAD) to test the waters. If the game feels "cold," I don't chase it.
• The Bonus Buy: If you're impatient like me, you might be tempted to buy the bonus (usually 100x your bet). Only do this if you are winning! I've burned my bankroll buying bonuses that paid back 10x. It's a high-risk gamble.
• Stop Loss: Set a hard limit. If I lose 30% of my session bankroll without a feature trigger, I walk away. Don't let the monsters eat your rent money!

Since this is a Pragmatic Play title, we are spoiled for choice here in the Great White North. You can find Book of Monsters at pretty much any reputable, regulated online casino. I personally stick to sites that offer Interac for deposits and withdrawals—it's just faster and safer for us.

I also tested this game extensively on my mobile, and it runs like a dream. The portrait mode layout makes it super easy to play one-handed while you're on the bus or waiting in line for coffee. Before you commit real money, I highly recommend finding a site with a Free Demo mode. Take a few spins, see how the volatility feels to you, and watch the animations. Once you're ready to chase that 5,000x win, make sure you're playing at a certified casino that pays out your winnings in CAD without hassle.