Review: Only a Monster - Vanessa Len

 

Hi Readers,

Let's dive in to Only a Monster by Vanessa Len.  This is also from the Owlcrate TBR pile and I honestly didn't read what it was about before starting it.  I wasn't sure what type of monsters this would be about, but I kind of assumed it was a vampire book from the cover.  I am so happy I was wrong.

Only a Monster creates a unique universe about monsters who steal time from people through touch.  By stealing time, this means that the victim will die earlier than they were originally intended (4 hours stolen= 4 hours earlier death).  Other than this ability and their familial abilities, they look like ordinary humans and are able to blend in to society.  These monsters are taught a story about a hero who has the ability to hunt and kill them all and this bedtime story comes into play in this book.

Not only does this book create a unique universe, it provides a hierarchy of families that is well explained and helps characterize the individuals throughout the book accordingly.  The book itself focuses on Joan who is part of the Hunt family, which is regarded as a family of thieves.  She ends up working with Aaron who is from the Olivers, which is essentially treated as an aristocratic family and much higher up in the food chain than the Hunts.  They end up working together, despite their differences, to evade and attempt to defeat the hero and possibly create a new timeline to save everyone.

I personally really enjoyed this book.  It took me less than a day to finish it and I was absolutely engrossed in the world.  The second book in the series Never a Hero is expected in 2023 and I can't wait.  I'm a sucker for a good series and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Joan.

5/5⭐

I can't believe it is almost September!  Whew!  I hope everyone is soaking up this last bit of summer.

Next book up - Cinderella is Dead  by Kalynn Bayron.

Until next time,

Kattie