Description

In every story there is a hero and a monster.
‘Mind-bending, heart wrenching, and unputdownable!’ STEPHANIE GARBER

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her eccentric family in London, Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her job at the historic Holland House, and when her co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place. Then Joan learns the truth.

Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers.

And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

To save herself and her family, Joan will have to do what she fears most: embrace her own monstrousness. Because in this story . . . she is not the hero.

Dive deep into the world of Only a Monster, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin: hidden worlds dwell in the shadows, beautiful monsters with untold powers walk among humans, and secrets are the most powerful weapon of all.

** Praise for Only a Monster **

‘Darkly delicious fun’ Natasha Ngan

‘What a fantastic, immersive read – I couldn’t stop turning the page!’ Naomi Novik

‘A captivating new voice in fantasy’ Hafsah Faizal

‘An absolute page-turner’ Chloe Gong

‘A fabulous start to a phenomenal new series’ Adalyn Grace

Publisher Review

Mind-bending, heart wrenching, and unputdownable! Don't feel bad if this book tricks you into rooting for the monster instead of the hero. Vanessa Len has written a masterful debut novel - I loved the time-travel, the star crossed romance, and the monsters * Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Caraval series and Once Upon a Broken Heart * Darkly delicious fun. If you've been looking for your newest YA urban fantasy obsession - you've found it * Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire * What a fantastic, immersive read - I couldn't stop turning the page! An exciting, original and complex fantasy about monsters, heroes, and all the people in between * Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of Uprooted and A Deadly Education * Vanessa Len's Only a Monster is captivating and unique and - dare I say it - utterly monstrous (in the best possible way). This engrossing debut will have YA readers longing to steal time just so they can devour the pages over and over again! * Lynette Noni, author of The Prison Healer * Vanessa Len's world of monsters and heroes is like nothing I've ever read, utterly fresh and unique * C.S. Pacat, USA Today bestselling author * With a pace that will leave you breathless, Only a Monster introduces a captivating new voice in fantasy with a dynamic story that blurs the lines between hero and monster * Hafsah Faizal, New York Times bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame * An absolute page-turner. Only a Monster paints another vivid world inside the one we know, and uses a deft hand to bring it utterly alive. Vanessa Len blurs the age-old lines between good or evil, hero or monster, in the most captivating way * Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights * A fabulous start to a phenomenal new series that reminded me of why I first fell in love with YA. Fast-paced and full of clever, monstrous characters you can't help but root for, Only A Monster is a book that should be on everyone's TBR. I'm already dying to get my hands on the sequel to find out what happens next! * Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth * Only A Monster is a wonderfully clever and intriguing take on the classic tale of hero versus monster. Vanessa Len has crafted a rich and immersive world filled with unique magic, thrilling action, and a heart-wrenching star-crossed romance. A marvellous and twisty debut that will pull you in right from the start! * June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold * Exquisitely crafted, this riveting read opens up a multitude of dimensions and turns the notion of heroes and monsters on its head. Vanessa Len has woven a spellbinding tale laced with mystery, magic, humor, and heartbreak * Cindy Lin, author of The Twelve * A thoughtful, well-constructed tale... a thumpingly enjoyable read * SFX * Readers who enjoyed epic tales like The Nightingale Floor and its sequels by Lian Hearn will appreciate this book * Armadillo Magazine * When Joan discovers her family's monstrous secret she realises she needs to find her own inner demon to protect them in this brilliantly twisty and original fantasy thriller * Waterstones *