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A review by nagathemanatoo
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.75
I adored this book. Especially in terms of its writing style and how it executes its story, it feels like it's wonderfully done and an excellent example of how to hold a reader's attention with breathtaking pacing. The author's development into the reveals never felt cheap or like they were easy to predict and see coming as can sometimes happen in books. Especially as you start to expose yourself to more and more of a certain genre.
Her technical expertise in this regard is flooring.
But where the storyline does struggle is not in the development of the plot, but in the interpersonal development of the characters and their relationships with each other. Everything is one of those situations where it is chock full of potential to be something amazing, but falls just shy of landing that last punch that it needs to hook readers and make the investment worth it. The emotional tones struggle to feel realistic, and that can take a person out.
It says a lot that the relationship that I felt was strongest was entirely devoted to a set of side characters that we don't spend nearly the entirety of the book with the way that we do with the relationship that is set-up for the main character.
It's the sort of book that would really benefit from being okay with letting its plot push out longer, and leaning into the strengths of its plot.
You won't walk away feeling disappointed either with this book. While it may struggle to really develop the relationships of characters with each other, it flawlessly understands the relationship of characters with themselves and who and what they are written to be.
It was unafraid to make plot decisions I think other authors would have shied away from, and I think that there is truly so much more good that we can expect to see from this author as she continues on her path.
Her technical expertise in this regard is flooring.
But where the storyline does struggle is not in the development of the plot, but in the interpersonal development of the characters and their relationships with each other. Everything is one of those situations where it is chock full of potential to be something amazing, but falls just shy of landing that last punch that it needs to hook readers and make the investment worth it. The emotional tones struggle to feel realistic, and that can take a person out.
It says a lot that the relationship that I felt was strongest was entirely devoted to a set of side characters that we don't spend nearly the entirety of the book with the way that we do with the relationship that is set-up for the main character.
It's the sort of book that would really benefit from being okay with letting its plot push out longer, and leaning into the strengths of its plot.
You won't walk away feeling disappointed either with this book. While it may struggle to really develop the relationships of characters with each other, it flawlessly understands the relationship of characters with themselves and who and what they are written to be.
It was unafraid to make plot decisions I think other authors would have shied away from, and I think that there is truly so much more good that we can expect to see from this author as she continues on her path.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death