Ordinary Monsters is an epic story of historical fantasy, focusing on kids who have special powers, in the year 1882. This takes place in Victorian London, and tells the tale of two kids with powers that are hunted by an unknown force. Two detectives are tasked to take them to safety in the north, they all go on an epic adventure of life of death.

First off, this book is LONG. You need to be really committed to this book to read through it. It is not for the feint of heart, and really takes a time commitment that not all will have. This book definitely would appeal to those who love classic fantasy, and even those who like historical fiction. This is a little "easier" to get into than some fantasy novels, because there is no "world building" since this is in traditional London, but the "fantastical" part is the super powers that the children have.

Personally, though, this book was just not my cup of tea. I have been attempting to give fantasy novels a try, and so thought this one might be different enough to enjoy. In some ways, it reminded me of the older TV show Heroes, where all the younger generation had different super powers, like super healing powers (like one of our characters did) and the ability to create something out of nothing. I think because this was set in the 1800s, it didn't grab me as much as the TV show did, and the background information that was needed to tell this story was at such a volume that it bogged down the book, for me.

Overall, I thought the narrator had a very thick accent, and was somewhat difficult to understand, at times. I didn't always enjoy the narration, and would have preferred either a female narrator, or maybe alternating narrators to make things a little easier to understand. I found him, at times, difficult to listen to, and I wished that someone else had narrated this book. It might have been slightly more enjoyable to me then.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It might just be me, but I can’t bring myself to focus on the story. The concept is compelling, but the pacing is so slow. Pretty much all of the characters can’t hold my attention other than Charlie. Even the narration is slow. I’m 25% of the way through and the story doesn’t even feel like it’s begun. This just isn’t resonating with me, so I’m going to dnf.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc for unbiased feedback.

Ordinary Monsters will surely go down as one of my favorite reads in 2022! It's got spectacular characters, rich atmosphere, and a compelling plot.

You'll be transported to Victorian London with all it's grit and grandeur, there you will begin to meet a cast of characters with unique and extraordinary powers. These characters are both hunted by outside forces and haunted by internal ones as they find their way to a safe haven in Edinburgh.

While the bones of this story may sound familiar ( X Men,Umbrella Academy) I can tell you that Ordinary Monsters took a familiar genre and elevated it. Not a word of this almost 700 pages felt meandering or excessive, everything was cleverly woven. This is a true celebration of morally grey characters that's not to be missed!

I enjoyed Ordinary Monsters so greatly that I requested the audio version after reading the physical. The narrator is spectacular and adds even more depth to story! If you are an audio fan I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Flatiron Books, the author, and Goodreads for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review

This book captured my attention with this stunning cover and synopsis of children with mysterious abilities set during the Victorian era. Unfortunately the audiobook was not for me. I had the narration sped up to 2x speed and I still felt like the narrator was speaking so slowly. I ended up dnfing at 20%. As hard as I tried I couldn't pay attention to the story and my brain kept drifting. None of the characters captured my attention and I didn't care about any of their situations. I don't know if it was just the audio or if I'd have better luck with the physical. I usually love historical fantasies so this should have worked for me.

4.5 stars.

WOW! What a story! I could not stop. From the moment that I first tuned into this audiobook, realized the writing and narration were both near perfection, I have listened most every moment that I have had the opportunity.

Creepy, thrilling, profound, wonderfully dark and magical, and oh-so compelling. I mean, the book is probably amazing on its own, but coupled with Ben Onwukwe narrating, it is absolutely chilling and heart-wrenching.

This foundational tale is told from the perspective of several different people, and with an intermingling of different timelines. Normally, I am not partial to this style, but it absolutely works in this book.

One of the things that I absolutely LOVE about this book is that the characters are all complex. No one is absolutely evil, and no one is perfectly true. Everyone has been affected by life's challenges, disappointments and grief to the point that they have been forever changed (even a tiny baby). There is conflict in many of them, as there is in all of us in the land of the living. And what/who is a monster anyway?!

My only complaint (if it even is one), is that the tension is ongoing. This is a 24+ hour audiobook without respite - there is always something incredible or overwhelming or heart-wrenching or dire happening. I had committed, under the impression that it was a 13+ hour audio. But I kept passing places that could have been natural endings, scared to fly passed and thinking that there would be a terrible cliffhanger coming up any ... hour ... now. But it just kept going, without giving any of the characters (or the reader) and sense of peace. Like a 24+ hour action movie.

I was originally under the impression that this was (unbelievably a debut novel), but a quick internet search brought me to an article on <a href="https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=458#m957">Shelf-Awareness</a> that notes that J.M. Miro is a pseudonym for someone who is already a poet and literary author from Canada's PNW. I think that it is sort-of weird that authors get typecast and need to change their names if they want to branch out into a completely different genre. But I suppose that is the (sad) "on brand" world that we live in.

Regardless, I look forward to reading more from this author - especially in continuing on with this story to find out more about the characters and the (new) mad quest(s) that they must continue onto.

I am so very grateful to the author J.M. Miro, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook, in exchange for my honest review.

Wow what a ride. This is a trilogy, from what I've seen, and I am so excited about it! I can't wait to see how this unfolds. I wasn't always sure what in the world was going on but I think that may have been the intent? Being thrown into this wild ride and just holding on for dear life! I had fun, I felt emotional, I rooted for characters and then changed my mind about them. Can't wait to see what else happens in the other books, definite recommend from me!

It’s hard to make Victorian London or a school for magical children seem fresh, new and exciting, but JM Miro has done just that with Ordinary Monsters.

I did not reread the synopsis before I dove into this book and was a little jarred by the multiple perspectives in the beginning… however the moment the book introduced Walter, I knew I would love this book.

The story was satisfying and well-told and the audiobook narrator’s did an amazing job of bringing this world to life.

More importantly, I fell in love with each of the characters, even the so-called villains.

Very excited to read the next installment, which can’t come quickly enough.

With a setting reminiscent of "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" meets "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children", Ordinary Monsters is a historical fantasy that follows a group of children with mysterious abilities as they are hunted and haunted by a man made of smoke. We mostly focus on the stories of teenage Charlie Ovid, a Black American boy with the ability to heal from any injury, and young Marlowe, the "Shining Boy", whose abilities defy all previous knowledge of existing "Talents".
After listening to this audiobook for a few minutes I was already hooked. I actually had to put it down and come back to it at a time when I could pay more attention to it. The world is eerie and atmospheric, detailed and looming, but no detail feels wasted. Our young characters are an endearing, heartbreaking collection of children who have had to grow up too fast, and find healing in their found family of other Talented people. Our guardian adults are fierce and protective, making up for the hurt in the world with the way they fight to keep these children safe. But not all the adults mean these children well, and we learn all the complicated origins and motivations of our monstrous characters.
Overall I really enjoyed the audio narration, but I wouldn't say this narrator has the most dynamic vocal range. Every time he would do a higher pitched voice for his female or children characters, they all ended up sounding like creaky old women. But it's a nitpicky detail, and did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. I look forward to future books in this series.
4.5 stars rounded up.

One of the best fantasy novels that I have ever read. J.M Miro has wonderfully cast us into a magical world filled with complex characters and an epic sweeping tale that keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next. It is on the cinematic level of Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind with a hint of Poe and his dark world. Set mostly in the foggy gaslight world of Victorian England, Ordinary Monsters follows a group of collected orphans known as talents because of special gifts that they offer to the world. The talents may be unusual children but they are filled with heart, humanity and complex emotions. I eagerly await the second book so that I can be amongst my new found-family friends and see how they will grow and what they will be up to next. I smell shortlist nominations and possible wins from the Hugo, Nebula and Locus community. Keep an eye on J.M. Miro as they have something amazing to offer to the literary world.

Special praise for Ben Onwukwe for his performance on the audiobook. His deep voice make you feel like you are sitting around a campfire or tucked snuggly in bed and a loved one is telling the story from memory. He lends an extra, dark element to the story and his use of voices adds a sense of realism to the reading.

Dark, gothic and creepy, ORDINARY MONSTERS is a story that pulls no punches and will leave you enthralled in its wake.

Thanks to Flatiron and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook!

Ordinary Monsters is a nifty story about kids with weird abilities known as Talents. The premise was interesting and I think there is something particularly alluring about Victorian England, so while it took me a little bit to sink myself into the world, I enjoyed it quite a bit. The book is very rich, and I thought all the characters were really fleshed out, and Ben Onwukwe really brought the story to life in his narration. Still, I did think that while the first couple chapters really captured my attention, after that the pacing slowed down for a bit until everyone made it to the Institute, after which I found the pacing felt very even. I did speed through this in my first read, but I think it's a story best savored, even though it is quite long.

3.5/5. By the end, I enjoyed it a lot. The beginning was fantastic, and he ended up sticking the landing. It's the middle that really knocked the score down. Too long, a huge slam on the brakes in terms of plot movement. I've never read Harry Potter but the scenes once they reach the school made me feel like I'd been dropped into one of them. The worst part about that series is that it's basically impossible to write about a school for special children without being compared to Hogwarts or X-Men. This felt like a pastiche of both of those.

The book swung back up toward the end, but at that point it felt very overlong and overstuffed, and I was just grateful to be finished with the book. While I enjoyed it, I probably won't read the rest in the trilogy.

The narrator was absolutely perfect for the story.