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itsnour's review against another edition
4.0
This was compulsively readable.
I've been reading a lot of YA fantasy lately and they somehow blurred together at some point. But this book takes a refreshing, unique approach. It's not everyday we get morally grey characters and a dashing time travel adventure, so this was utterly delightful.
I liked the structure of the story, the monster families and their powers, the secrets that are yet to unravel, i simply can't wait where things will go from here.
I found myself invested in the characters. Joan is a very likeable heroine, she's mentally strong and proactive with so much room to grow. Also we don't have many biracial protagonists so this was a treat. Ruth was such a fun character and her support for Joan was heartwarming. My most favorite character is Aaron. I was enjoying the chemistry between him and Joan a lot throughout the book. I simply need more of him in the next book.
There's something about the writing that can swoop you in. Many parts were thrilling and fast-paced, it was hard to put the book down without knowing what will happen next. It's amazing that this is the author's debut novel. I enjoyed it thoroughly and i'm very excited for the sequel.
I've been reading a lot of YA fantasy lately and they somehow blurred together at some point. But this book takes a refreshing, unique approach. It's not everyday we get morally grey characters and a dashing time travel adventure, so this was utterly delightful.
I liked the structure of the story, the monster families and their powers, the secrets that are yet to unravel, i simply can't wait where things will go from here.
I found myself invested in the characters. Joan is a very likeable heroine, she's mentally strong and proactive with so much room to grow. Also we don't have many biracial protagonists so this was a treat. Ruth was such a fun character and her support for Joan was heartwarming. My most favorite character is Aaron. I was enjoying the chemistry between him and Joan a lot throughout the book. I simply need more of him in the next book.
There's something about the writing that can swoop you in. Many parts were thrilling and fast-paced, it was hard to put the book down without knowing what will happen next. It's amazing that this is the author's debut novel. I enjoyed it thoroughly and i'm very excited for the sequel.
jihaluna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
grace_koalateareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
“‘You’re a hero and I’m a monster,’ she whispered. ‘There’s only one way that story ever ends.’”
Only A Monster by Vanessa Len was a leap into time: memorable and magnificent! I was truly and utterly enamoured and found it really rather difficult to put this book down (for sleep only)! I’m hurriedly writing this review now so I can start the next book immediately!
I adored all the characters, the twists and turns, the historical elements, magical world building and the way it was hard to distinguish who was actually the “villain” in the story, was impressive. Joan is such a fantastic main character, her flaws and motivations expertly crafted, I could feel her anguish and struggles throughout the story, and just wanted to give her a hug!
Nick was such a wildcard, I found I both loved and hated him in equal measure, right up until that last page! I hope to see more of Aaron in the sequel, I haven’t so many questions still!! Also a special shoutout to Frankie, the bestest time travelling pupperoonie!
I cannot sing the praises of this book more! If it’s not on your TBR list, this is your sign!
greenwitch_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
kelly24lox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.0
I almost DNF’d because I was getting frustrated with all the information other characters were keeping from Joan. She would asking them pointed questions that they either wouldn’t answer or would say that she should already know that. I did power through the frustration because the premise had me interested and the writing was really good.
thecrazyreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stelle!
Punti forti:
- I viaggi nel tempo: l’unicità di questo libro sta proprio nel fatto che i mostri per viaggiare nel tempo devono rubarlo agli esseri umani. È un’idea che ho molto apprezzato e mi ha subito interessato. Il problema che di solito ho con queste narrazioni è che non tutto riesce ad essere spiegato perfettamente e quindi chi legge si fa mille domande. In questo romanzo la scrittrice è riuscita a dare una regola base che rende l’impossibile quasi possibile e mi ha portato ad avere quasi nessuna domanda da contestare.
- La storia in sé è molto semplice e coincisa. Riesce ad appassionarti, senza essere troppo prolissa. Mi ha ricordato gli YA di prima generazione.
- Romance: il libro viene presentato anche con il trope del love triangle, ma per me non c’è. Mi spiego. La protagonista è innamorata di uno solo dei due personaggi maschili, non prova nessun sentimento per l’altro. C’è la possibilità che questo diventi un triangolo in futuro? Assolutamente, ma per adesso non c’è. È una linea retta, con un secondo personaggio maschile interessato alla protagonista. Fin quasi dall’inizio ho avuto una preferenza tra i due personaggi maschili e arrivata alla fine ci sono rimasta male perché credo che non vincerò mai. Era da un po’ che non sceglievo la ship sbagliata.
Punti deboli:
- Il finale: avete presente i grandi pregi che ho fatto per i viaggi nel tempo? Ecco, la scrittrice ha rovinato tutto nel finale. Rompe completamente le regole che aveva creato. È interessante quello che succede, ma secondo me non viene spiegato a dovere. Capisco che essendo la fine può spiegarlo nei sequel, ma almeno qualche domanda poteva trovare risposta.
In definitiva è un libro piacevole da leggere, con molti spunti positivi, che sono curiosa di vedere a cosa porteranno.
Punti forti:
- I viaggi nel tempo: l’unicità di questo libro sta proprio nel fatto che i mostri per viaggiare nel tempo devono rubarlo agli esseri umani. È un’idea che ho molto apprezzato e mi ha subito interessato. Il problema che di solito ho con queste narrazioni è che non tutto riesce ad essere spiegato perfettamente e quindi chi legge si fa mille domande. In questo romanzo la scrittrice è riuscita a dare una regola base che rende l’impossibile quasi possibile e mi ha portato ad avere quasi nessuna domanda da contestare.
- La storia in sé è molto semplice e coincisa. Riesce ad appassionarti, senza essere troppo prolissa. Mi ha ricordato gli YA di prima generazione.
- Romance: il libro viene presentato anche con il trope del love triangle, ma per me non c’è. Mi spiego. La protagonista è innamorata di uno solo dei due personaggi maschili, non prova nessun sentimento per l’altro. C’è la possibilità che questo diventi un triangolo in futuro? Assolutamente, ma per adesso non c’è. È una linea retta, con un secondo personaggio maschile interessato alla protagonista. Fin quasi dall’inizio ho avuto una preferenza tra i due personaggi maschili e arrivata alla fine ci sono rimasta male perché credo che non vincerò mai. Era da un po’ che non sceglievo la ship sbagliata.
Punti deboli:
- Il finale: avete presente i grandi pregi che ho fatto per i viaggi nel tempo? Ecco, la scrittrice ha rovinato tutto nel finale. Rompe completamente le regole che aveva creato. È interessante quello che succede, ma secondo me non viene spiegato a dovere. Capisco che essendo la fine può spiegarlo nei sequel, ma almeno qualche domanda poteva trovare risposta.
In definitiva è un libro piacevole da leggere, con molti spunti positivi, che sono curiosa di vedere a cosa porteranno.
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
4.5 stars
On vacation in London visiting her mother’s family, Joan’s summer is turned upside down when, on her way to a date with her long time crush Nick, she accidentally travels to the future by stealing time from someone. Turns out, the fairytales her grandma used to tell her are entirely true, and her mother’s family are actually monsters who can steal time from humans and use it to travel, and she herself is half-human and half-monster. But before she has had time to digest this shocking revelation, she finds out that Nick is actually a figure from legend, known as the hero, whose purpose is to slaughter all monsters. When tragedy strikes, Joan is forced to work with Aaron, the heir of a rival monster family and travel through time herself, battling Nick and seeking a way to stop him.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book ever since I saw it among this season’s releases, and it was such an amazing read! Urban fantasy has never been my thing, but books like this have been changing my mind a lot with respect to this genre. Only A Monster is set in London, which in and of itself makes a wonderful setting for this type of book, but when you add in the time travel aspect, it takes the plot to a whole other level, with so many historical pieces being woven in. Time travel is one of my absolute favorite tropes and I’ve never seen it integrated into the fantasy genre so well! The magic system itself was no less intriguing with many monster families, each of them having a special magical ability. The high-stakes plot with plenty of twists and secrets to be revealed made this a thrilling read.
The characters were the most interesting aspect of this book for me. They reminded me a little of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series as well as Renegades to an extent, where the line between good and evil is not always clear. Joan is from a monster family but is half-human and she does recognize that what her family and other monsters do is wrong, but does that really justify the hero’s actions? This book makes you question the nature of heroes and villains and consider if the hero, who is actually the villain of this story, is truly a villain at all, especially as his backstory begins to unfold. There are so many ways to look at this plot and interpret it and I loved how the author was able to portray them all so well while still making each side of the conflict sympathetic in some way. I felt that seeing this story from Joan’s POV was a good narrative choice as the world of monsters is explored through the eyes of someone new to it with little familial bias like many of the other characters have.
I haven’t yet finalized my rating at 4 stars for this book, and honestly, I’m very tempted to raise it a little. My main issue with this book was that despite the loose ends, the ending felt rather complete and it was something I would expect to see in a second or third book rather than the first. Still, it is a debut novel and I have my fingers crossed that book 2 will be just as strong, so I may yet change this rating to a 4.5!
I found the ending to be a little abrupt and would have liked a clearer explanation as to the aftermath of Joan’s actions, specifically where it leaves her in terms of her abilities. However, given that this is apparently a trilogy, I didn’t mind that there are some things left unresolved and so much still remains to explore in this fascinating world. Only A Monster was a thoroughly entertaining, fast paced read and it is a book I would highly recommend! I can’t wait to see what the sequel will be like!
4.5 stars
On vacation in London visiting her mother’s family, Joan’s summer is turned upside down when, on her way to a date with her long time crush Nick, she accidentally travels to the future by stealing time from someone. Turns out, the fairytales her grandma used to tell her are entirely true, and her mother’s family are actually monsters who can steal time from humans and use it to travel, and she herself is half-human and half-monster. But before she has had time to digest this shocking revelation, she finds out that Nick is actually a figure from legend, known as the hero, whose purpose is to slaughter all monsters. When tragedy strikes, Joan is forced to work with Aaron, the heir of a rival monster family and travel through time herself, battling Nick and seeking a way to stop him.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book ever since I saw it among this season’s releases, and it was such an amazing read! Urban fantasy has never been my thing, but books like this have been changing my mind a lot with respect to this genre. Only A Monster is set in London, which in and of itself makes a wonderful setting for this type of book, but when you add in the time travel aspect, it takes the plot to a whole other level, with so many historical pieces being woven in. Time travel is one of my absolute favorite tropes and I’ve never seen it integrated into the fantasy genre so well! The magic system itself was no less intriguing with many monster families, each of them having a special magical ability. The high-stakes plot with plenty of twists and secrets to be revealed made this a thrilling read.
The characters were the most interesting aspect of this book for me. They reminded me a little of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series as well as Renegades to an extent, where the line between good and evil is not always clear. Joan is from a monster family but is half-human and she does recognize that what her family and other monsters do is wrong, but does that really justify the hero’s actions? This book makes you question the nature of heroes and villains and consider if the hero, who is actually the villain of this story, is truly a villain at all, especially as his backstory begins to unfold. There are so many ways to look at this plot and interpret it and I loved how the author was able to portray them all so well while still making each side of the conflict sympathetic in some way. I felt that seeing this story from Joan’s POV was a good narrative choice as the world of monsters is explored through the eyes of someone new to it with little familial bias like many of the other characters have.
I haven’t yet finalized my rating at 4 stars for this book, and honestly, I’m very tempted to raise it a little. My main issue with this book was that despite the loose ends, the ending felt rather complete and it was something I would expect to see in a second or third book rather than the first. Still, it is a debut novel and I have my fingers crossed that book 2 will be just as strong, so I may yet change this rating to a 4.5!
I found the ending to be a little abrupt and would have liked a clearer explanation as to the aftermath of Joan’s actions, specifically where it leaves her in terms of her abilities. However, given that this is apparently a trilogy, I didn’t mind that there are some things left unresolved and so much still remains to explore in this fascinating world. Only A Monster was a thoroughly entertaining, fast paced read and it is a book I would highly recommend! I can’t wait to see what the sequel will be like!