Reviews with content warning for Death - Only a Monster

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

74 reviews

rhr88's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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sp00ky_n3rd's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.5

Okay, I REALLY enjoyed this. It was so fast paced, engaging and such an easy read. Exactly what I needed. I feel like there are so many unfinished threads! I have questions! The character building was generally good but I loved Aaron in particular and he definitely grew as a character throughout.The world building was great, it was full of romantic clichés and low key predictable storylines. All in all, a good, strong YA. 4.5 stars.

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dreamerfromthebooks's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was the first YA fantasy I’ve read in almost a year. I’ve forgotten how magical and whimsical this genre can be.

I liked the writing and pacing of the story. It kept me on my toes, although it was a little difficult to follow. I didn’t realize the book dealt with time travel. It’s an element I don’t always enjoy, but it really depends on how it’s done. In this case it was well written, but as I was listening to the audiobook I think I ended up missing a few key things here and there.

The love story for me felt unnecessary. If we had found out earlier about Nick’s and Joan’s lives I think I would appreciated their romance more. But the ending felt rushed trying to squeeze very shocking parts in the last 15% of the book.

The book does two things very well — it’s beginning and the characters’ relationships. The beginning had me hooked. I wasn’t expecting time travel let alone a whole massacre within the first 20%. It kept me engaged and wanting to hear what happened next to Joan on her adventure.

The characters’ relationships were developed so well. Aka Aaron and Joan had such great development (listen he gives me Warner vibes 😂). I loved their relationship throughout all of this. Even if they stay friends (questionable since he’ll probably have to kill her if they meet again) I’d be happy about that. But I felt as though their building (possible) romance was far better than Nick’s and Joan’s.

Ruth was so funny and lovable. When she died in the beginning I wasn’t happy because I was just getting to really like her,

only to find out that she went back in time and lived!! I’m glad she survived the change to the main timeline and that their family was restored ♥️

Overall I appreciate the talent of this craft, the engaging characters, and what it took to really become the hero of your own story.

CW: major character death, death of family members, death of partners, violence, mild gore

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kassidyreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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rosie_books's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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? No

4.0

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thehushedearth's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

In this book Joan is a half human half monster girl who volunteers with a boy named Nick who she really likes. After a series of events that occur when she is supposed to go on a date with him, she learns that she time traveled.

When she goes to explain it to him, they run into more monsters from a rival family and end up in a life or death situation. Joan learns that Nick is the “human hero” from all of the monster children stories and there is a massacre killing Joan’s entire family leaving only Joan and the son of her rival family, Aaron, alive. Joan and Aaron are then forced to time travel again while they run for their lives so that they can try to save their families and end up on a wild adventure full of more monsters and monster slayers and royal courts and monster balls. It’s a wonderful world that Len built full of culturally diverse characters. I understand Joan’s need to have her family back, but I feel like it was a stab in the back toward Aaron and Nick didn’t deserve her love with all that happened.

I feel like this story isn’t close to complete and can’t wait for the next book to see how the gang gets back together and what happens in the monster world.

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