Reviews

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

nattisue17's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

The FMC is hard to like, in my opinion. I didn't super enjoy this read

yulie's review against another edition

3.0

There are a few glaring faults to this, but I found it extremely fun and easy to read. Does Joan get a little exasperating sometimes when she willingly explains away or ignores obvious cues? Yes. Is it a bit irritating when she willingly puts people into danger for her own agendas? Yup. But it's whatever, it's part of the YA energy and she's definitely on the better side of YA protagonists since she's actually useful and remorseful about things.

Aaron deserves better though and I'm 1000% more interested in him than Nick. Nick is so boring I want to cry whenever he's back on the page.

What I will excessively praise, though, is how much I loved all the cultural representation in this. Reading about Joan's family and the foods and the memories she had was really heart-warming. It's nice being represented!

eirelynbird's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

4.0

t_jenkins's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

carooks2006's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

3.0

gabrielaa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

indianahat's review

5.0

I can’t believe I didn’t review this sooner. This book seriously has to be one of my top reads for 2022. Can’t wait to read the remainder of the series in the future and absolutely recommend for anyone starting the fantasy genre.

bigsby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

3.75

ajdasst's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

re-read
4.5☆ ---> 5☆

It didn't make sense to stick with Aaron. He despised her, and the feeling was mutual.

"Don't look at them," Aaron said "Look at me."

"A Hunt and an Oliver together? How very Romeo and Juliet.

"I hate you," she said. This time Nick did hesitate, long enough for Joan to hear his hitched exhale. "I know."

Oliver stories are mostly horror. I guess they enjoy terrifying their children before they fall asleep."
Aaron usually hated people talking about his family. But there was mild approval on his face at this. God, the Olivers are weird, Joan thought.

Aaron said. "All I know is that if you undo the massacre, you can't ever meet me. You can't ever trust me. I won't know. I won't remember what-" He cut himself off. Then he ground out, "I won't remember what you mean to me."

"Aaron," she said. She touched his hand. He was always so warm.
Then he did meet her eyes. There was such intensity in his face that for a long moment, Joan thought he was about to kiss her.

But it wasn't her he wanted to reach for. Not really. He wanted the other Joan. The Joan who made the right choices. That Joan had died in the massacre, along with her family.

thechaoticreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75