From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Only a Monster (Monsters, #1)

Vanessa Len

Start date: May 1, 2023

Finish date: May 31, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Aug 25, 2022 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, be-still-my-beating-heart, morally-questionable, betrayal, dark-themes, this-book-slays, wish-list-physical, abuse-or-past-abuse, fantasy, feeeeels

I actually really enjoyed this book. When I read the synopsis and it basically implied a 'Romeo and Juliet'-style love story between a monster girl and a monster hunter boy I was sold. That premise speaks to me on so many levels.

When I began this book I noticed how much I really loved Len's writing style. It was inviting and relatable and it just really drew me into the story. It paired well with Len's creative storytelling. I adored the concept for this story and I think that it was executed qu I actually really enjoyed this book. When I read the synopsis and it basically implied a 'Romeo and Juliet'-style love story between a monster girl and a monster hunter boy I was sold. That premise speaks to me on so many levels.

When I began this book I noticed how much I really loved Len's writing style. It was inviting and relatable and it just really drew me into the story. It paired well with Len's creative storytelling. I adored the concept for this story and I think that it was executed quite well. I loved all the surprising plot twists and the interesting and clever content in the story. The world-building was beautifully described.

I really liked the characters in the story. Joan's narrative was very interesting. There were a lot of conflicts and moral dilemmas for Joan in the book and her journey was really compelling. I kind of liked how morally ambiguous she was at times in the face of protecting or avenging her family. She was unstoppable. I also very much enjoyed Aaron's character and I think that there is a lot hidden under the surface when it comes to him. I am excited to learn more about him in the next book. Nick is a rather mysterious character and I am also anxious to see more of him. There are a number of other secondary characters that all had distinct roles in the story. I love that each character had their own feel and personality.

The romance in this story really borders on a love triangle. I say borders because it wasn't a truly full-fledged love triangle in my opinion. There were only feelings exchanged between two of the characters but it was obvious that there were some lingering feelings on the behalf of a third character that were perhaps reciprocated to an extent. There were true connections between the leading lady and her two supposed love interests so it was pretty convincing. I am eager to see where this kind-of-maybe love triangle goes in the next book. Especially because I think that I am currently rooting for the guy that Joan didn't confess her feelings to. Go figure.

Overall, this was a creative story with exciting elements and intriguing characters. Len has a writing voice that is really easy to latch onto and that I enjoyed very much. The world is described in vivid detail and the plot definitely keeps you on your toes. The ending of the book leaves a lot of unanswered questions so I am excited to read the next book when it releases.

BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON PINTEREST ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2022 Jenn rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-supernatural, young-adult, fantasy, books-i-own, 3-star-reads, new-author-to-me, signed-copies, do-you-believe-in-magic, read-in-2022

This book was … confusing. Not confusing in the sense that I didn't know what was going on, but more so that there was so much unanswered by the time we got to the end that I just felt blah.

Only a Monster is the story of Joan who, unknown to her, comes from a family of monsters. She discovers this fact rather unfortunately when she time jumps an entire day missing the date she was so excited for. Joan then learns that monsters exist and each family has a different power. On top of this, there a This book was … confusing. Not confusing in the sense that I didn't know what was going on, but more so that there was so much unanswered by the time we got to the end that I just felt blah.

Only a Monster is the story of Joan who, unknown to her, comes from a family of monsters. She discovers this fact rather unfortunately when she time jumps an entire day missing the date she was so excited for. Joan then learns that monsters exist and each family has a different power. On top of this, there are also monster hunters and the 1 true hero who is prophesized to bring about the end of all monsters. Suddenly Joan is thrown into a battle to save not only herself but her entire species of monsters.

OK, first off, the use of the word monster really threw me during this book. When I think monster, I think of hideous creatures who terrorize the population. These 'monsters' looked like ordinary humans that had super powers. Even Joan's family called themselves monsters which I thought was weird. I don't know, I think this was a little annoyance on my part and probably only bothered me so I'll move on.

So I really liked the set up for this story. The race through time that Joan and Aaron are on was fascinating and I wanted to know more about the history of these monsters and how much they affected the world as we know it. The author beautifully described the locations and time periods to the point that I was just wanted to stay in them. But as the story went on, I just had more and more questions that went nowhere.

Another thing that I wasn't a super huge fan of was the over arcing love story. I felt so much chemistry between Joan and Aaron that I really wanted to explore that. However, I get that the relationship with Joan and Nick (the 1 true hero) seems more interesting, but there was a little tibit that the author threw in towards the end that honestly had me rolling my eyes.

I can see how so many people loved it - it has fairly descent reviews on here - but for me, it was lacking and I just hope that the next book explores this world more and takes the time to really understand itself. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2022 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-physical, fairyloot, fantasy

Only A Monster Review on K-Books

“You’re a hero and I’m a monster. There’s only one way that story ever ends.”

Only A Monster is a book I knew I just needed to read as soon as Hodder announced it. It immediately sounded like something I would absolutely adore. I love books that challenge the ideas of hero and villians/monsters and having a book that is told from the perspective of the monster just sounded perfect for me. I saw so many bloggers and bookstagrammers raving about this one early on Only A Monster Review on K-Books

“You’re a hero and I’m a monster. There’s only one way that story ever ends.”

Only A Monster is a book I knew I just needed to read as soon as Hodder announced it. It immediately sounded like something I would absolutely adore. I love books that challenge the ideas of hero and villians/monsters and having a book that is told from the perspective of the monster just sounded perfect for me. I saw so many bloggers and bookstagrammers raving about this one early on and I was so excited when the amazing Kate at Hodder gave me an eARC. I had such high expectations for this book and it surpassed each and every one.

Only A Monster follows our main protagonist Joan. Joan has always been told since she was small that she was a monster, but she didn’t really know what they meant. Until she suddenly comes into a power she knows nothing about. She suddenly finds herself alone in a world she knows nothing about with Aaron, a member of another monster feuding family, as her only ally. Can they put aside their differences to save both their families? And what about Nick, the boy Joan was falling in love with who happens to be the hero destined to kill all of the monsters?

I absolutely loved this book. It is a little slow to start with as the author is building up this world of monsters. There are so many different monster ‘families’ and they all have a slightly different power. I really loved this concept of different kinds of monsters. The beginning of the book seemed a bit like a lesson of learning the world and the different monsters, as I have come to expect with fantasy books. Once the events take a huge turn, it picks up and I loved every single second of it. I ended up devouring this one in a day.

Vanessa Len has done such a phenomenal job with this book. It’s honestly such a stunning book and a pleasure to read. One thing I loved was the fact that she really challenged the idea of the ‘monsters’. She doesn’t for a second romanticise them or make you believe they’re really the good guys. It’s so obvious they aren’t as they are hurting people for their own gain… but somehow she makes you love them and root for them anyway. And I loved that! Our main protagonist goes through an internal struggle as she comes to grips with being a monster, and I thought that struggle was done so well and really just made me love the monsters all the more.

Only A Monster has everything. Morally grey characters, an enemies to lovers romance (or two!) and a little twist of fate. I loved everything about this book and I am dying to read more in this world and with these characters. Already I am dying to get my hands on book two. If you’re looking for a new YA urban fantasy to fall head over heels in love with, then look no further. I promise you won’t be disappointed with this one. It is an absolute must-read!

“You’re important, I know you want your family back, but your life matters too.”