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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Turnbull is a writer to watch. No Gods; No Monsters is a page-turning urban fantasy that explores the consequences of a world where monsters are real and hidden among us. Or were hidden until now! Turnbull employes multiple perspectives and plot threads, ranging from a grieving sister who seeks justice for her brother's death at the hands of the police, to a secret society that tries to protect the monsters from exposure, to a journalist who uncovers a conspiracy that spans dimensions. Turnbull uses concepts such as emergence theory and model theory to enrich his narrative and to examine themes such as identity, belonging, oppression, and resistance. The novel is not only a thrilling adventure, but also a thoughtful reflection on how society treats its "others" of different races, classes, and sexual orientation. And how individuals cope with trauma and loss. Turnbull's prose is engaging, and his characters are complex and sympathetic for the type of novel. The novel's main weakness is that it sometimes feels overcrowded and confusing, with too many characters and ideas competing for attention. Some plot points are left unresolved or underdeveloped, leaving the reader wanting more. However, this also creates anticipation for the next installment in the series. No Gods; No Monsters is a remarkable early novel that showcases Turnbull's talent and vision.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While I enjoyed the concept and broader ideas explored in the book, including Turnbull’s iconic mosaic narratives, the prose fell a bit flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Dementia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Transphobia, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This books has so many great things going for it: social commentary that was perfect, the supernatural, cults, cats! And yet, it was nothing more than giant circle in which we and the MC end up it pretty much the same place. No real questions are answered, and nothing truly happened.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes