Reviews

Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale

richard_morrow's review

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When a strange creature washes up on the banks of the Thames, the ‘mudlarks’ have to decide whether or not to plunder from or rescue the creature. A monster who has always been hunted but the sympathy of a child help to make him into more of a man. It shows how Victorian people will try to profit from it whether from money or fame except for the character of Nell who is filled with heart and warmth despite what life has given her. Uplifting yet upsetting almost simultaneously. A fantastic retelling of the Minotaur myth set in Victorian London, magical descriptions that create a world similar to that which is presented in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The innocence of children can see past the monster while the conniving eyes of the adult can see the weaknesses of the man. A rollercoaster of a page turner that questions if a persons nature can really ever change or if you’ll always be a monster if that’s what people see…

cwill89's review

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bookwormclare01's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

em_davies7019's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

3.0

muujina's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

elsepopelse's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

jessica_grayson's review against another edition

Quite slow, and felt like I still didn't see where the story was going or felt invested in the plot.

michcee68's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Historical fiction and mythology woven together

zlsprs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

doolro's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0