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kylosten's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, Murder, and Child abuse
Minor: Kidnapping, Classism, and Cursing
zoeelora's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Stalking, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Physical abuse
thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
I loved the concept and the premise of the book. The entire lore and development of monsters was very well done and I found it incredibly interesting.
I enjoyed the majority of the plot with the exception of the ending. While I understand why it had to end the way it did, the whole ending just felt off.
I enjoyed the majority of the plot with the exception of the ending. While I understand why it had to end the way it did, the whole ending just felt off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
The book does start with the death of everyone Joan cares about, and leaving her injured. We also find out that Nick does have a tragic origin story involving the death of his parents and the corresponding torture he endured. Finally, on their mission the group does encounter the location where a friend of theirs had been held after essentially being kidnapped.booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ONLY A MONSTER engages with difference, family, belonging, and monstrosity as Joan, a half-human, half-monster girl witness the massacre of her family by a hero.
The narration focuses on Joan's reactions to various events, often returning to pieces of already-known information as her feelings change in light of new circumstances. It has the cumulative effect that very few things actually happen during the story, and long stretches of time are about processing those events and deciding how to proceed. Aaron's initial disdain transforming into patient support is one of my favorite parts of the book (and is why the ending particularly devastates me). I also like how Tom is a more complicated character than he first appears to be.
This dwells in long stretches of worldbuilding, specifically on snapshots of monster society within human society. Joan marvels at their various waystations, safe places they control for long stretches of time and can get food or supplies for the time where they've arrived. I enjoyed the descriptions as they didn't get bogged down in picky details, but included Joan's thoughts about what she was witnessing. The way the monster powers work is pretty cool, and I enjoyed the various facets of that world. One of my favorite simple details is that they call themselves monsters and that's the end of it. There's no complicated other label for themselves, as they're unashamed of how they live their lives. It's a detail that makes them truly feel like a group whose lives don't revolve around what humans think of them (since humans are little more than fuel to monsters).
I have very mixed feelings about the ending. It uses a trope I've loved at the conclusion of long series, but it leaves me unsure of the direction for the next book. It generates a feeling of immense work that's extremely important but completely invisible to everyone around Joan by the end. The most important thing at the end of the book is how the experience changed Joan, and the specific goal she was able to achieve. The relationships that are built up the most (between Joan and her fellow monsters) are not the ones with the weight of destiny behind them, and I'm nervous for what a sequel could bring.
The narration focuses on Joan's reactions to various events, often returning to pieces of already-known information as her feelings change in light of new circumstances. It has the cumulative effect that very few things actually happen during the story, and long stretches of time are about processing those events and deciding how to proceed. Aaron's initial disdain transforming into patient support is one of my favorite parts of the book (and is why the ending particularly devastates me). I also like how Tom is a more complicated character than he first appears to be.
This dwells in long stretches of worldbuilding, specifically on snapshots of monster society within human society. Joan marvels at their various waystations, safe places they control for long stretches of time and can get food or supplies for the time where they've arrived. I enjoyed the descriptions as they didn't get bogged down in picky details, but included Joan's thoughts about what she was witnessing. The way the monster powers work is pretty cool, and I enjoyed the various facets of that world. One of my favorite simple details is that they call themselves monsters and that's the end of it. There's no complicated other label for themselves, as they're unashamed of how they live their lives. It's a detail that makes them truly feel like a group whose lives don't revolve around what humans think of them (since humans are little more than fuel to monsters).
I have very mixed feelings about the ending. It uses a trope I've loved at the conclusion of long series, but it leaves me unsure of the direction for the next book. It generates a feeling of immense work that's extremely important but completely invisible to everyone around Joan by the end. The most important thing at the end of the book is how the experience changed Joan, and the specific goal she was able to achieve. The relationships that are built up the most (between Joan and her fellow monsters) are not the ones with the weight of destiny behind them, and I'm nervous for what a sequel could bring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Medical trauma, Racism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit
rosie_books's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Hate crime
Minor: Kidnapping and Bullying
thehushedearth's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Classism, Gore, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping, Torture, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
madbytheway's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
This book tore my heart out more times than once. I don't have the words to describe how I'm feeling right now but let me just say this: Altering time? The memory loss that follows? My kryptonite. My. Fucking. Kryptonite.
Seriously need the sequal now because that ending was oh-my-fucking-GOD levels of ... of whatever emotion I'm feeling right now.
I'll update this review tomorrow when I've had some time to process that ending and when it's not 12am. Because wow I need to collect my thoughts.
Seriously need the sequal now because that ending was oh-my-fucking-GOD levels of ... of whatever emotion I'm feeling right now.
I'll update this review tomorrow when I've had some time to process that ending and when it's not 12am. Because wow I need to collect my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Kidnapping, and Xenophobia
It's very good please read it.lady_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Genocide, and Drug abuse
Minor: Cursing, Kidnapping, and Racism
charlmax's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture
sunlit_music's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
This book was so intense, oh my god. The world building is incredible - so well thought out and creative. I loved the way the book explained the magic system, time traveling, how monsters steal years off people's lives, and the differences and similarities between the monster world and the human world.
The romance is absolutely heartbreaking. I would say the ending is bittersweet, because the main character Joan manages to save her family members, but she is never able to see her love interest ever again. The choices that Joan has to make to save the people she loves are gut wrenching. There are no truly good choices that save everyone. She has to choose between letting her family die, or taking years off strangers' lives to save her own family.
I like how the book makes you sympathise with Joan and other morally grey characters, even when you don't always agree with them. That's the sign of a truly great writer.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes fast paced action, morally grey characters, main characters with supportive loving families, and characters who grow and evolve over time.
The romance is absolutely heartbreaking. I would say the ending is bittersweet, because the main character Joan manages to
I like how the book makes you sympathise with Joan and other morally grey characters, even when you don't always agree with them. That's the sign of a truly great writer.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes fast paced action, morally grey characters, main characters with supportive loving families, and characters who grow and evolve over time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Child death, Grief, and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism
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