Title: The Monster Who Wasn’t
Author: T.C. Shelley
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication: 19 Sep 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Review Copy
My rating: 5/5
Blurb (as on Goodreads):
It is a well-known fact that fairies are born from a baby’s first laugh. What is not as well documented is how monsters come into being …
This is the story of a creature who is both strange and unique. When he hatches down in the vast underground lair where monsters dwell, he looks just like a human boy – much to the disgust of everyone watching. Even the grumpy gargoyles who adopt him and nickname him ‘Imp’ only want him to steal chocolate for them from the nearby shops. He’s a child with feet in both worlds, and he doesn’t know where he fits.
But little does Imp realise that Thunderguts, king of the ogres, has a great and dangerous destiny in mind for him, and he’ll stop at nothing to see it come to pass …
The Monster Who Wasn’t is a beautifully written story of family bond and belonging. I liked the concept behind how monsters come into a being. It was something I never heard or came across. I don’t remember the last time I loved the characters of a book unanimously. Be it Daniel, Sam (the Imp boy), the adorable gargoyles or the Kavanaghs I loved each one of them.
The way Daniel took care of the Imp boy made him an absolute favourite. Among the three gargoyles, Wheedle holds a special place in my heart for his friendly and welcoming nature. Despite giving shelter to the imp boy, Bladder wasn’t quite happy in welcoming the imp into their pack, but this paved the way for the turn of events that made the Imp boy question his own identity and where he actually belongs.
The arrival of the Banshee, Pixies, Brownies, Goblins and the arduous journey of Sam to the underworld to save Beatrice made the latter part of the book even more interesting. The author through her eloquent writing and vivid descriptions will teleport you into the world that she has so exceptionally created where you cannot help but believe the very existence of the creatures of the dark. For the family who Sam (the Imp boy) risked his life made it all worth in the end.
Overall, its an interesting read with great world-building, wonderful character development, and a completely engrossing narrative. I’m eagerly waiting for the second instalment in this trilogy. A definite recommendation from my side if you love middle-grade fantasy fiction.
*A special thanks to the publisher (Bloomsbury IN) for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
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