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Rating: 
Summary: Brilliantly Crafted
Review: After being hammered with endless recommendations in favor of "The Monsternomicon", I finally caved and picked it up. As much as I would like to be the devil's advocate and give this book a lesser review, I simply can not. The monsters are useful and interesting and most can be fit into any campaign. Whether it be Privateer's Iron Kingdoms or a more widely used campaign setting like the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk (D&D's current default setting), there is something here for any DM's tastes.Although the quality of many D&D (d20) products from independent presses (and in a few cases, WotC itself) seems to be a little more "miss" than "hit", I am totally impressed with the care and detail used throughout Privateer Press's first hardback release. In addition to monsters you also get: a) Three prestige classes that are not overspecialized, unbalanced or obviously designed for NPC use. b) Four new playable PC races: Trollkin, Gobbers, Nyss, & Ogrun c) A general outline of the Cosmology of the Iron Kingdoms ...as well as some well-designed NPCs, a list of scholarly works, and a few other interesting bits...
Rating:
Summary: What? No one has reviewed this yet:?
Review: I am pleased to recommend the Monsternomicon and its steampunk approach, which can easily be adapted to any campaign. Even if you use FR, the use of mechanics and firearms can have its place somewhere, and provides a great twist for adventures. The nomicon is lavishly illustrated, with pictures that harken to the early days of first edition. The art in this book is MUCH better than anything in the Creature Collections by S&S. Great work from a D20 publisher, and anyone who runs a hardcore Iron Lands campaign shouldn't be without this. If you are a collectorand appreciate talent, soul and hard work, snatch this one up before they're all gone.
Rating:
Summary: Top Quality all around
Review: I had never heard of the company before picking up this as a reference for a game that I am currently running. After flipping through I found a book that rivals (and surpasses in several areas) the quality of any bestiary out there (for the d20 system and others).
The artwork is stylistic, brooding, and very fitting for the design of the world. The typeface is not simple block, but it is clear enough to read and quickly understand. In addition every monster comes with a small section on helping the GM work them into their game. This is a very nice touch that I wish other books would do. Since not everyone runs stock games - helping other GMs pull your material into their world is a great step.
Rating: 
Summary: OK this is a fair review..
Review: I have browsed and read the local copy at my local store and honestly I liked the book and I am seriously considering buying it. There are a few pros and cons to the book. Lets start with the good bits -
1) It has very nice section for each monster to assist the DM in playing the monster in a game. This is something that has been overlooked by most books.
2) A new rule about how much a character knows about the monster. Listing their knowledge from Common to Obsure and based on Knowledge checks the DM can inform the players what their characters actually know about the monster. This is a very very good addition to any game - of course it would help if the players have never read the book.
3) Interesting, varied and shall I say imaginative creatures. This you have to see for yourself.. some are kinda silly like automatons - some are too manacing like this CR 20-30 something dragon.
4) New monster templates - now you can make Tough Monsters, Bloodthirsty Monsters etc.. very nice
The Bad part about the book:
1) No color pictures.
2) Did they playtest this? You have to wonder - some creatures are waaay to powerful for the given CR.
3) Not too easy to integrate into other campaigns - some details are Iron Kingdom specific.
4) Not enough monsters - with all the additional details for each creature, there wasnt enough room for more monsters I guess.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully illustrated, believable, usable monsters
Review: I've been playing D&D for about 24 years now. This is my favorite rpg book - EVER. The art, although not in color, is worth the cover price alone. Add to this, 1) monsters that practically write adventures around themselves (and if they don't, adventure hooks are listed for each one), 2) Legends and lore - tidbits of information your PCs might have heard about the monster (listed by rarity), 3) Detailed information on what types of treasure each monster would have and so on... Each monster gets at least 2 pages (sometimes 3 or 4). Each has a story about how the author, Viktor Pendrake, encountered them. The trolls are absolutely fabulous, why would anyone use a normal D&D troll (with their ridiculous noses) after seeing the ones in the Monsternomicon. Plenty of undead, contstructs, and twisted races. Some of the stuff seemed kind of "out there" for my world, so I made them outsiders just because I couldn't stand the thought of NOT using them in my campaign. Buy this book, you'll agree that this is the standard to which all monster collections should be held. This puts the Monster Manual 2 to shame in every possible way.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully illustrated, believable, usable monsters
Review: I've been playing D&D for about 24 years now. This is my favorite rpg book - EVER. The art, although not in color, is worth the cover price alone. Add to this, 1) monsters that practically write adventures around themselves (and if they don't, adventure hooks are listed for each one), 2) Legends and lore - tidbits of information your PCs might have heard about the monster (listed by rarity), 3) Detailed information on what types of treasure each monster would have and so on... Each monster gets at least 2 pages (sometimes 3 or 4). Each has a story about how the author, Viktor Pendrake, encountered them. The trolls are absolutely fabulous, why would anyone use a normal D&D troll (with their ridiculous noses) after seeing the ones in the Monsternomicon. Plenty of undead, contstructs, and twisted races. Some of the stuff seemed kind of "out there" for my world, so I made them outsiders just because I couldn't stand the thought of NOT using them in my campaign. Buy this book, you'll agree that this is the standard to which all monster collections should be held. This puts the Monster Manual 2 to shame in every possible way.
Rating: 
Summary: very suspicious...
Review: it seems to me that everyone that has reviewed this book works for the company or is, in fact, friends/family. this book is okay, but is not the end all be all that every other review claims. although, given the level of cheese i expect everyone already guessed that anyway. anyhoo, stop taking advantage of the system. or if you do, dont be so blatant...
edit: well i see the other responses had been edited now do display something different...sheesh
Rating:
Summary: Monsternomicon! What could be more cool!
Review: The cover best describes this book: A fantastical steam-tech undead beastie breaking through all barriers to "reach out and touch someone." The book goes one step farther than the MM, MM2, and FF put out by Wizards: it gives you information about the beastie you would know if you had different levels of knowledge on the subject. This is a great tool for the DM, and also adds a flavor for the campaign setting, afterall, the players shouldn't be playing all-knowing monster manual rules-lawyers, right?
Rating:
Summary: Delve Into Superb Fantasy
Review: This tome is brilliantly superb. It brings even jaded players and game masters back into the days past, when roleplaying games were new and unknown. Remember looking into the first edition monster manuals and finding rich, interesting descriptions? When I paged through this tome, those old feelings were rekindled. That is a rare thing, because I've been a game master for 20 years. You'll love this. This book is of the highest quality of gaming material and I judge all others, including the "official" D&D books by the quality portrayed by Privateer Press. These guys and gals have their act together and have produced a tome worth having. Don't get this unless you're prepared to expect higher quality from all other products you might purchase. Be prepared... to embark upon the realms of vivid, rich landscapes when you open this book. My hat is off to Privateer Press. You'll love the richness they added into EACH monster description. Lavishly illustrated and expertly written; complete with adventure hooks and levels of Legends and Lore PLUS 3 Prestige Classes. This is a rare gem, as were the WitchFire adventures released by Privateer. -Chai
Rating:
Summary: Excellent work
Review: This was recommended to me by an employee of The Source gaming store and listening to him was one of the best gaming moves I have made. To add to the last review, I found the descriptions of the monsters not only give depth beyond most material out there, but the legends and lore section detailing the DCs for various levels of knowledge is incredible. I hope WOTC (and everyone else) models after this. It greatly reduces the inconsistency inherent in constant on-the-fly judgements making the game master less stressed and the gamers much happier. This is an unabashed and unreserved recommendation for the book and a plea to Privateer Press / Iron Kingdoms to not stop now. Buy this book.
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