A huge tome of Victorian adventure that is darkly imaginative and infused with a sense of Gothic wonder and magic. I see people comparing it to “Miss Peregrines” and “Stranger Things” and I think think comparison really holds up. It’s got a bunch of misfit, empowered orphans discovering the potential horrors of another world along with a ragtag team of adult characters who all have different motives, as well as a (slightly cliche) villain who wants to access that world.

My favorite parts of this book were 1) the fight scenes, which were SO well written and felt cinematic, and 2) the descriptions of the litches- that is literal nightmare material right there and they spooked me so badly! It’s all so deliciously creepy and atmospheric. ( )

Ordinary Monsters is a fantasy novel set in the late 19th century. In this book, some people are born with special powers. There is an organization that collects these children to take them to a school in Scotland to help them understand and control their power. But there is someone else hunting these children and he brings violence and death. This is an epic story that takes the reader all over the world. I liked how morally gray a lot of the characters and motivations were. The reader is not given all the information, so they are left with many of the same questions as the children in this book. That may frustrate some readers, but I think it really helped me relate to the children because I was in the same boat as they were in regards to understanding what is going on. The theme of monsters and what makes someone a monster was an interesting one. I look forward to seeing where the author goes with this trilogy. It does end on a bit of a cliff hanger and I want to see what happens next. ( )

Stick with it! There is a lot to set up and a lot of great characters that kept me engaged along the way. The last half of the book went by more quickly than the first half, and I love how the dynamics of the story changed through each of the different parts. Really looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!! ( )

3.5 ( )

I read Ordinary Monsters over the holiday… or what has amounted to 3 weeks. The plan was always to use it as a transition between 2022 + 2023 as it is a true tome, at 658 pages. I didn’t read everyday, but when I did pick it up I used it as an escape and a distraction. Despite its gothic atmosphere, a kind of Charles Dickens meets X-Men, and dark scenes, grimy settings and (sometimes) horrific subject matter… it was quite cozy.

The children are such a shining light (literally 👀) in this story, and Charlie and Marlowe had my whole heart. I’d say the default tone of the book is one of the grotesque, but the children and their “talents” are often described with a kind of beauty and awe. I thought that was so effective. The relationships dynamics, in general, are full of layers shaped by the world the characters live in and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding them.

It feels long, in a good way, but also in a way that feels like a true journey. This is Book One in an eventual trilogy and the world is huge… it has no choice but to be slow. For that— I recommend going into it expecting a slowness and a story you need to give full attention to. For some readers this might be one to skip. I’m going to continue in the series but I imagine I’ll need a refresher when Book Two finally comes out… and quite frankly, that’s daunting.

I also want to say that for all of my interest in the unfolding mystery of it all, and the fascination I felt, or even the protective energy I felt towards Marlowe… it didn’t emotionally impact me. Not outwardly, anyway, which is strange for me. I didn’t even feel particularly moved. For that I couldn’t give it 5 stars, despite the achievement I truly believe it to be. So… 4 stars, but solid in every way and if you ARE the audience for this story, you’re going to love it. ( )