A review by ashkowalskaa
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Thank you Little, Brown Book UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for honest review!

I’ll begin this review by saying that I’m not big fan of historical, adult novels. I usually find them too complex and draining for me to fully enjoy the story, and I had my moment of doubt with The Monsters We Defy, and oh boy was I wrong! It took me less than two chapters to get used to the language and writing, and the same amount of time to get fully drowned into the story. I absolutely loved Clara Johnson and her roommate, and that love only grew to each new character and relationships build between them. The flashback-chapters giving the backstory for the characters were such a clever way to introduce them and take a pause from the main story without it feeling strange. I couldn’t stop reading because as long as this book is, the story was going so flawlessly it never felt boring. Every plot twist and every challenge got me gasping, and it was one of the best endings I’ve read in a long time.