Reviews

The Monsters of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny

adamskiboy528491's review against another edition

4.0

Sometimes the monsters take us. Sometimes we become the monsters.

[b:The Monsters of Rookhaven|52778475|The Monsters of Rookhaven (The Monsters of Rookhaven, #1)|Pádraig Kenny|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585566294l/52778475._SY75_.jpg|78861316] by [a:Pádraig Kenny|17179521|Pádraig Kenny|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1559332791p2/17179521.jpg] was not the horror story I was expecting! I got a real sense of these characters through Kenny's writing and sets to work, in the subtlest of ways, weaving motifs and feelings seemingly drawn from classic and contemporary literature. The horror tropes are beautifully deconstructed, like in Shelley's Frankenstein, the 'monsters' are misunderstood, and there is more to them than meets the eye.

It has a pretty straightforward plot, which makes it all the more enjoyable. Mirabelle lives in a strange house with an even stranger family. Members of the family appear from time to time through portals. Nobody knows where they come from or what they will be, but they will forever be family. Their home and way of life are protected from the 'real' world by a glamour which shields them from being hunted by humans, except one day, the glamour wears thin, and humans enter. Things will never be the same again. They are about to find out just what kind of monsters exist…

This book also has beautifully crafted illustrations by Edward Bettison! The designs bring an extra flare of the gothic atmosphere from the different types of spooky animals, the beauty, yet creepiness of the deadly blooming flowers and even the appearance of the "Big Bad" was truly terrifying (also, if you've arachnophobic, you're probably not going to like a few pages)! While most monsters are not so monstrous when shown in the illustration, the darkness is captured, particularly by the black pages with white font and drawing.

One of the enjoyable aspects of this book is that it is a brilliantly told adventure with just enough magic to be believable and precisely the right amount of elaboration to keep a reader guessing whilst feeling like they get it. The way some characters were unable to look the villain in the eye really added to the tension, and the way he so quickly bent others to his will, and there was nothing that could immediately be done to stop this genuinely terrified me. Events escalate from here, snowballing towards a tense and dramatic climax that is shocking and touching. It could easily be compared to Miss Peregrine's Home of Peculiar Children vs The Addams Family. Please give it a read!

bookofjuliette's review against another edition

5.0

C’était si bien comme lecture !
J’ai très hâte de connaître la suite

readertasha's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Honestly it was a decent eerie, gothic, creepy tales of monsters. Took me a while to get into the story but once stuff start to happen, it got interesting!

“Piglet is dangerous.” Is what they were screaming the whole time but yet Piglet was a damn hero & the best of them all. Precious little thing!

The friendships in this was soo wholesome & I loved that part. These kids deserves every happiness..
Also the illustrations in the book was amazing & adds more to the story. I liked how every time it was Piglets POV the page is black with white writing.

Story: 3 STARS
Illustrations: 5 STARS

I might read the second book but I’m not sure just yet…

stw07's review against another edition

3.5

It was fine but I just never felt invested in any of the characters or the plot… 

kelseygraczyk's review against another edition

5.0

An absolute dark delight. This book was a mixture of the Adam's Family and Spirited Away. The intricate world building and monster mythology was incredible. I loved the fun family aspect of the town and the family. READ IT NOW!!

juliat2006's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

spookystaircase'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

alexduarte's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition

4.0

4 / 4.5 stars

I am so here for the vibes - this book delighted me from start to finish, and is gorgeously creepy. Completely binged it in a day, and am so looking forward to the next.

Spoiler

However, Bertram is unforgivable!! I am so so sad!!!! I will be hung up on this for days

witchy_luz's review against another edition

4.0

4,5 ⭐️
Vraiment très sympa. Les thèmes abordés sont très intéressants et notamment la guerre qu’on voit peu dans ce genre de récit. Tout était assez bien amené, je n’aurai pas dis non à plus de détail.

Par contre y a des fautes, il manque des mots c’est un peu dommage et je ne comprend pas l’intérêt de multiplier les périphrases pour parler des personnages. Leur nom suffit, mais toujours chercher une façon tarabiscotée de nommer un perso c’est nom. C’est alourdi le récit et ça fait lever les yeux. Mais je pense que c’est du à la trad