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bookswithserena's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
br1106's review
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aladun's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mrsb_lovesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
xannyyylove's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
lifeinthebooklane's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I'm so pleased I decided to give this book a chance otherwise I would have missed out on this well-written, captivating alternate history. The author very cleverly wove fact together with fiction, producing an atmospheric tale that takes you into the heart of black 1920s Washington. As someone who is white British, this is a history I am having to make myself aware of, so Clara (Cassie) Johnson wasn't a name I was familiar with. As the author notes at the end of the book, there are disturbing parallel's between her story and that, 100 years later, of Breonna Taylor.
Fast-paced, twisty and thoroughly captivating, The Monsters We Defy quickly grabbed my attention and proved to be a book that I just didn't want to put down. The story is told (third person) from Clara's point of view and she is one bullish, head-strong and irascible young lady used to keeping others at arm's length. We get the (very) occasional chapter focusing in on another character, allowing us to understand their choices and motivations. Clara was an incredibly sympathetic character, and as the story progressed I found myself warming to all her coterie of misfits.
There are just so many strands to this wonderful story, from the mystical elements to the quest, through to the discrimination from many quarters along with Clara's character arc. With themes of friendship, subjugation, fear, acceptance, being careful what you wish for, and self-forgiveness there wasn't a moment of the story that didn't hold value, meaning or impact. I highly recommend this.
I'm so pleased I decided to give this book a chance otherwise I would have missed out on this well-written, captivating alternate history. The author very cleverly wove fact together with fiction, producing an atmospheric tale that takes you into the heart of black 1920s Washington. As someone who is white British, this is a history I am having to make myself aware of, so Clara (Cassie) Johnson wasn't a name I was familiar with. As the author notes at the end of the book, there are disturbing parallel's between her story and that, 100 years later, of Breonna Taylor.
Fast-paced, twisty and thoroughly captivating, The Monsters We Defy quickly grabbed my attention and proved to be a book that I just didn't want to put down. The story is told (third person) from Clara's point of view and she is one bullish, head-strong and irascible young lady used to keeping others at arm's length. We get the (very) occasional chapter focusing in on another character, allowing us to understand their choices and motivations. Clara was an incredibly sympathetic character, and as the story progressed I found myself warming to all her coterie of misfits.
There are just so many strands to this wonderful story, from the mystical elements to the quest, through to the discrimination from many quarters along with Clara's character arc. With themes of friendship, subjugation, fear, acceptance, being careful what you wish for, and self-forgiveness there wasn't a moment of the story that didn't hold value, meaning or impact. I highly recommend this.
yourfavavery's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
So this one, was a fun, quick YA read that kept me from a slump! So that automatically gets a boost in my book. I discovered this book after seeing Leslye Penelope at an author's panel at Awesome-Con in DC, where she was explaining the research she did for her heist novel set on Black Broadway in DC. I was hooked.
The story follows Clara Johnson, a woman who lives off U Street in DC in the Jim Crow era. Penelope based the character on a real woman who was held in jail after the 1919 race riots, where Johnson shot a white police officer in self-defense and so because a minor celebrity/legal cause for the Black community before she was ultimately released and faded into history. The book imagines that she made a deal with an Enigma from the spirit world to get out, and now the Enigma wants her to clear her debt by stealing a ring from the most powerful Black woman in DC.
The Pros: THE SETTING. Maybe I'm biased, but I read about a certain intersection of U Street while I was riding a bus through that intersection, and it was magical. A few main landmarks of U Street either still exist (Howard, LeDroit Park) or were reopened recently (The Howard Theatre), and reading a story set in a familiar location was a treat. You can tell Penelope did a lot of research and combined with her experiences at Howard it made the story come to life.
The Cons: The characters and plot felt a bit thin, but I think that mostly has to do with the genre. This is squarely a YA novel, which is by no means a bad thing. I just don't read YA all that often and so it didn't quite hit me where I needed it to. That said, I've been reading a lot of heavy horror books lately and this was a nice, uncomplicated book to break that up and keep me from falling into a slump.
Overall, it was a fun read that sparked joy through its shining setting and historical detail. If that's not usually your jam, pick it up when you need to mix things up!
The story follows Clara Johnson, a woman who lives off U Street in DC in the Jim Crow era. Penelope based the character on a real woman who was held in jail after the 1919 race riots, where Johnson shot a white police officer in self-defense and so because a minor celebrity/legal cause for the Black community before she was ultimately released and faded into history. The book imagines that she made a deal with an Enigma from the spirit world to get out, and now the Enigma wants her to clear her debt by stealing a ring from the most powerful Black woman in DC.
The Pros: THE SETTING. Maybe I'm biased, but I read about a certain intersection of U Street while I was riding a bus through that intersection, and it was magical. A few main landmarks of U Street either still exist (Howard, LeDroit Park) or were reopened recently (The Howard Theatre), and reading a story set in a familiar location was a treat. You can tell Penelope did a lot of research and combined with her experiences at Howard it made the story come to life.
The Cons: The characters and plot felt a bit thin, but I think that mostly has to do with the genre. This is squarely a YA novel, which is by no means a bad thing. I just don't read YA all that often and so it didn't quite hit me where I needed it to. That said, I've been reading a lot of heavy horror books lately and this was a nice, uncomplicated book to break that up and keep me from falling into a slump.
Overall, it was a fun read that sparked joy through its shining setting and historical detail. If that's not usually your jam, pick it up when you need to mix things up!
cass_lit's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. It had everything — history, atmosphere, romance, a little bit of magic. I loved all of the characters and the supernatural aspects. I can’t wait to read more from Leslye Penelope and I definitely hope we get more from this world!
blivonius1219's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5