Only a Monster: Volume 1

Characters:- Joan Cheng-Hunt - the "half-human, half-monster" She comes from a long line of monsters who take on a human appearance and time travel. Joan works as a preservationist to an ancestral home, Holland House. An unexpected gesture while waiting for someone in a cafe turns her life upside down. Nick - the "hero" He is one of the Holland House volunteers preserving the historic home. His relaxed and calm demeanor hides a few dark secrets that will rock the monster community. Aaron Oliver - the "black sheep" He is part of the Oliver clan; Type-A personality - rules follower yet with a sad secret. He may be passive, but he is a staunch ally of Joan when it comes time to do things. The Writing:- The writing is concise and easy to follow. The world-building in different times and locations was detailed and authentic. I enjoyed the local flavors that the author provided and all the minute details of streets and alleyways that characters had to weave through the city to find secret passages and hidden access points. POV: third-person, limited (Joan's) The Plot:- The lines of good and evil are blurred for the book. Each interaction between Joan and Nick brings forth new nuances on the concept of right or wrong. Although their interactions were short, they were poignant, heavily, and emotionally charged. It was impossible NOT to sense the immense emotions (and hidden history) that were going on between them. I love moments when characters' moral compass is constantly tested, questioned, and internally conflicted. The conversations impacted how I will view the world and situations now. Now...the Ending:- Leading up to the ending, Joan made many " on-point decisions." Joan's moral compass slowly guides her to the sacrifices for the betterment of everyone in the story. Ironically, not to her heart's. That is the book's food for thought:- Can a monster have a HEA? Can a monster have or even find love? Would you consider someone a monster if they are willing to sacrifice everything for the rest of the world? Adding to this, ironically, Joan (the supposed monster) brings forth change and character development to the supposed hero, Nick, that throws me further off the kilter! Even days after much reflection, the book still leaves me empty and sad. I am still reeling from it. I am writing this later since I wanted to be fair and gather my thoughts well. I have never had to take this much time since I had to question the mindset I came into the story to give it a fair assessment of the book. My initial reaction would have been a frustrated one BUT given time and re-reading a few more pages again. I think I was fooling myself with an ending that I wanted, not what is authentic, raw, and honest for the story, the concept, and the characters as a whole. Yes, I am stubborn and unwilling to accept the HEA within Joan's capabilities. Is it the right one? I didn't want to accept it, BUT it was the right one when seen in the enormous spectrum of the story. Warning:- Be ready to bring in the tears and angst with one or two unhappy characters. Overall, Only A Monster is one of my angstiest reads in a long time. It has mystery and suspense as Joan (and the gang) tries to find a way to "save" the monster community without realizing the actual cost in the end. Readers will feel all the emotions that Joan went through, but the best one is the selfless final action that she takes on that will shock everyone! **Remember - she is "the hope" that people need to change and is balanced by Aaron and Nick's rugged "reality checks." I like how the author constantly made me think of Joan, Nick, and Aaron's positions. I cannot wait to see how Book 2 will be or if this "ending" will enlighten the next stage of these monsters' lives or move on to another set of monsters.

I'm so mad I have to wait for the next book. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

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