Book Review: Only a Monster

Only a Monster
Vanessa Len

In this first installment of a dark speculative trilogy, we meet sixteen year old Joan who has grown up in a family of eccentric (read “criminal”) individuals, with her passion for history and historical reenactment good naturedly humored by them, even her budding romance with the very cute coworker Nick. Things are going just right for her summer when suddenly they go deadly wrong. Childhood memories surface as she rediscovers that her family are the creatures warned about in bedtime stories, and Nick is the perfect fairytale hero, slayer of evil… and in order to save herself and those she holds dear, Joan is going to have to be a monster.

I was quite impressed with this first book, and while there is a satisfying and meaty ending I loved how Len raised the stakes again to build momentum for the second book in the series Never a Hero (June 2023). There’s a little bit of everything for everyone here, which is really as much as I can say concerning some things since my reviews are spoiler-free, and also why I dubbed it “speculative” instead of just “fantasy”.

What I can talk about is the magic system at play here: it is balanced, it is dark, is it enchanting, it is thought-provoking. While there is no outright bodily harm in the way magic is harvested, the price to pay for being a monster is still intriguing to think about and will be sure to be a source of discussion for any groups or readers that want to talk about it.

Joan’s emotions throughout are well described, if a bit all-consuming at times, and her thought process makes sense, if it’s a little slow on the uptake at times. I can’t fault her for being cautious or disbelieving when thrown into new circumstances. Her romance with Nick, and maybe also another monster who comes to her aid, is well written, believable, and well… a little romantic.

This is a book that you will be thinking about long after you finish it, and looking forward to the next book as consequences for everything in book 1 come to light. A fantastic pick for readers in grades 8+, and for book clubs to consider with its wide appeal and discussion possibilities.