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A review by honeyreads1066
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? No
4.0
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did.
Honestly, did I like the characters? No. Was I a massive fan of the writing? Also no. But this plot had me in a gorilla grip and I honestly had no idea where it would go. The fact that this followed teenagers and incredibly young kids. The fact that this was set in a store where they could have everything they want and needed. I have no idea why it worked so much but it is so different from anything that I have ever read.
The characters I was not a fan of probably for the reason that they really did act like teens. Idk how Laybourne managed to write them to be so realistic but honestly, I'm gonna pretend that I was never like that. Being around kids quite often, the way the kids were written was also incredible. The hysterics, how annoying they are, the fact they feel like they know everything, it was incredibly realistic. The characters did do things or think things that really gave me an icky feeling but I have chosen to ignore it because the other characters make it clear the majority of the time that it's not okay.Mainly the way they view Sahalia, they all gawk at her even though they make it clear they all see that she's a child and her behaviour isn't really seen as that bad even though she is literally 13.
The plot was its biggest success. A series of natural disasters force these kids to be stuck in a supermarket with no adults and they can't leave.A chemical leak that affects people based on their blood type (which nobody knows so it's a toss-up as to which person is going to have which effect). I really just had no idea where it was gonna go until the very end.
Overall, was it an absolute masterpiece of literature? No. But I will read the rest of the series and greatly enjoy the nostalgia for that era of dystopian fiction that it gives me.
Honestly, did I like the characters? No. Was I a massive fan of the writing? Also no. But this plot had me in a gorilla grip and I honestly had no idea where it would go. The fact that this followed teenagers and incredibly young kids. The fact that this was set in a store where they could have everything they want and needed. I have no idea why it worked so much but it is so different from anything that I have ever read.
The characters I was not a fan of probably for the reason that they really did act like teens. Idk how Laybourne managed to write them to be so realistic but honestly, I'm gonna pretend that I was never like that. Being around kids quite often, the way the kids were written was also incredible. The hysterics, how annoying they are, the fact they feel like they know everything, it was incredibly realistic. The characters did do things or think things that really gave me an icky feeling but I have chosen to ignore it because the other characters make it clear the majority of the time that it's not okay.
The plot was its biggest success. A series of natural disasters force these kids to be stuck in a supermarket with no adults and they can't leave.
Overall, was it an absolute masterpiece of literature? No. But I will read the rest of the series and greatly enjoy the nostalgia for that era of dystopian fiction that it gives me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence