"To the quiet but dangerous girls who seethe at injustice: may they never see us coming".

From the author note at the start to the dedication line. This book swept me away. More relevant now than ever, it's shock and awe will draw you into worldly themes. If the violence in this book unsettles you, quite frankly grow up and take a look at world issues. Shalini provides a content warning list so I don't wanna see any reviews with anyone saying they were blindsided.

For me, the genre of fantasy is a space where authors can challenge, provoke, and comment in a space that can impart lessons to readers. This book is a cautionary tale, showcasing that maybe justice isn't blind. How can we be better citizens in our daily life? Yes it's an escapism, and I hope we get some light to conquer all the darkness in book two.

This book is absolutely fire. My thanks to Shalini, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley.

Review on my bookstagram @lochislibrary will be up closer to the publication date.

This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara is such a good story. The characters are fantastic and the storyline is immaculate. I totally recommend everyone to read this story.