*Only a Monster* by Vanessa Len is a thrilling, inventive twist on the classic hero vs. monster story. With captivating characters, intricate world-building, and moral complexity, Len crafts a tale where monsters are not what they seem. Filled with suspense, romance, and unexpected twists, this fantasy novel is perfect for fans who crave a fresh, thought-provoking adventure. A fantastic, unforgettable debut!

Now this was a unique time travel book. If you like that sort of thing mixed with magic and London and a bit of rivalries between families, you’ll almost certainly like this, too. The characters are well-defined and the stakes are high. The world building is really fun and done pretty well.
I hope to see a lot more from this author in the future.

This one didn't quite hit the mark for me. YA books have been regularly missing the mark for me for a couple years, and this one fell into the pitfall of being annoyed at a 16 year old and just not caring about their romance woes. I should just not read them anymore. DNF @30%

I absolutely loved this book. I of course loved that Joan works at a museum like me which I’ve never really have seen in a YA book so I loved that! Joan is a complex character and her struggle to handle all of her feelings about finding out she is a monster was really well done and interesting to read. I also enjoyed seeing her develop and navigate her friendships/relationships with both Aaron and Nick. The world building and action was so well done as well! I can’t wait to find out what happens in book two after the cliffhanger this book ends on!

16 year old Joan discovers that she and her entire family are monsters with strange powers. She also discovers that Nick, the cute boy she has a crush on is a legendary monster slayer. When Nick reveals his abilities during an attack by a rival monster family, he will stop at nothing to destroy Joan and her entire family. In an attempt to prevent the massacre, Joan teams up with Aaron, the youngest Oliver to stop Nick.

I think the concept of this book was really interesting, with a unique premise. It started off okay, then dragged a bit in the middle, but the ending was a fun time. It was a bit confusing, and the magic system was a bit hard to follow sometimes. There were definitely some plot holes that didn't make sense, but if you just roll with it you can still enjoy your time reading. I thought it was cool that all the monster families had different powers and abilities. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle, and the soul mates trope in this... It just didn't... work in my opinion.

I am intrigued with reading the next book, as we are left on a bit of a cliff hanger and there is not much resolution to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

The pacing was good, the concept is interesting, and I'm definitely interested in continuing the series in hopes to see what else Vanessa Len has up their sleeves.

I really enjoyed it! Not everything was totally wrapped up, but that's okay since there is a sequel. I think teens will quite like the borderline-cliche, but well-done romance aspect of the story, along with the crazy-high stakes.

This is one of those ya fantasy novels that sucks you in and keeps you hooked as it builds the story. Is it a little cliche? Yes, but it is fun. As a whole, I think the concept of magical beings being labeled as 'monsters' as a blanket statement for their 'species' is very lame and boring. But the main character is someone you root for and the story was addicting.

When I finished it I was like a cliff hanger?? But then I realized it's part of a series so now I'm more excited than ever!

now THAT is a NOVEL. absolute brilliance!!!

i could never predict a plot point which was super refreshing! and who doesn’t love time travel??? i absolutely ate up the plot like #life to the supernatural. super excited for the sequel!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

This book was pretty good. I really liked Joan’s character, but I couldn’t really
get into that potential love triangle. But I might be a little biased just because I’m not the biggest fan of love triangle. I think that the magic system in this book was super interesting and not like anything I’ve ever read. I never felt bored when I was reading this book because I felt like the plot itself was super fast paced and action packed. Overall this was a great read.

This faced paced fantasy has been well-liked in my library. I enjoyed the morally grey aspect and the magic system was well written. Looking forward to the next one!

-4.0

i wanted to rate the book higher but I couldn't bring myself to. I loved the adventure, I loved the magic system, and I loved all of the characters. The relationship with the characters felt really deep, and the found family aspect was enjoyable. The scene with Aaron and Joan towards the end of the book broke my heart for Aaron, and I found myself wanting more every step of the way.

The reason why I knocked some points off the book had to be, I wanted more Nick in the book. The romance that was targeted in the book felt made me feel so disappointed because it was barely explored since Nick was barely in the book at all. I feel like if the book's description didn't so heavily talk about the romance, I wouldn't have docked off points.

This one will be popular with my high school students that are fantasy lovers. They love a series, and the romance and fantasy of this one will be well received.

This one was special!!

I was absolutely hooked from the very first chapter.

This story is so incredibly unique and an intriguing concept that was executed phenomenally.

I would definitely recommend this one to romance and fantasy lovers to add to their shelf and collection.

Only a Monster is such a beautifully written YA fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. Vanessa Len has earned herself a spot on my auto-buy authors list. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Only a Monster today.

I knew I was looking forward to this book but what a pleasant surprise it was!

It was an engaging and fun read and I really liked the time travel in the story.

I know this book is the beginning of a series and I can't wait to see what comes next!

"You're not a hero, Joan. You're a monster."
what to expect:
-YA fantasy
-first in a series
-antihero pov
-star crossed lovers love triangle (chefs kiss)
-time travel!
-lots of tension and angst
-set in london
-super fast paced, really quick read!
-monsters vs heroes, what makes each side good or bad?

my thoughts!
this book had me gripped from beginning to end. I finished it in less than 24 hours and laughed out loud multiple times. the humor in this book is amazing, as well as the chemistry between all the characters. the plot is so unique and interesting that I simply had to know more. fans of a darker shade of magic, loki or doctor strange would love this book! it’s whitty, dark, romantic, and mysterious all in one. I think everyone should have a little fun with some time traveling monsters in their lives, so go pick this one up!
thank you so much to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Vanessa for working to get me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! i’m on my way to get a physical copy.

First off, this book's cover is absolutely gorgeous and immediately pulled me in. I found the storyline to be very unique and intriguing and the ending was amazing!