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Monster
The year is 2053, and the world is recovering from a Morbus, a plague that swept across the globe, destroying millions of lives. Eva Stewart is a promising young WorldCure scientist assigned to a facility in Alaska where she is made a Handler and given her own human Subject for research and experimentation. What she believes to be a step up in her career becomes a nightmare when she discovers writing on her Subject’s cell wall. "I still have a soul." Soon Eva is drawn into a horrific plot kept quiet by WorldCure, and as everything she knew collapses around her, she must discover the truth behind her Subject, her beliefs, and herself.
422 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2013
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100 people want to read
About the author
Mirriam Neal
2 books88 followersDrop me a question, comment, favorite quote, riddle, or random remark here — mirriamneal@outlook.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 3, 2014
"Everyone was created by God and for His pleasure, and it is not up to us to decide on what our flawed minds would call perfect or imperfect."
The quote above, for me, sums up one of the core issues in this book.
I've been following the author's blog for a while but only recently asked the vital question: wait a sec - is her book available on kindle?
It was.
So I read it. In roughly one sitting.
Do you know what I hated about it? Finding it difficult to breathe because of a really tense scene. It's no fun at all.
Why can't books come with something like: 'Warning: Emotional Trauma Ahead'?
So ... the plot, summarized in my own inexpert words: Eva Stewart, working for a company entitled WorldCure, is attempting to find a cure for a horrible, people-killing virus. She gets promoted at work which means that she is able to experiment on her very own Subject. But then she discovers words on the wall of her Subject! It all goes downhill from there (well, from her career's perspective anyway).
3 Things that stuck out:
1. The British Professor (Pocky, as he is affectionately known) says this wonderful phrase: 'I miss you too, duck'. Living in an area (in England) where that phrase is actually used, well, it was quite a pleasant jolt (and then later on he says duckie!)
2. The technical side; everything sounded well researched,(if it was me writing I'm afraid it would go like this: and then she did a science-y thing and checked another science-y-machine-monitor. Then she said, gravely, "... "syringe ... temperature ... antidote ... liquid ... needle ... cure ...")
3. In the beginning Eva is hardened to the Subjects - because to her they aren't human. Just a medium to find the cure to the virus. I liked the fact that this was portrayed - her hardness; she is a product of her training, her environment - and wasn't avoided.
My Favourite Scene:
The Courtroom Debate. Why? You have to read it. For me, this is the thing I'll take away from this book. It was memorable. Thought provoking.
Most Favourite Character:
Ah, this is hard; can I have three? For me, my three favourite characters are ... Mir, Igorov and (of course) Pocky.
Most Loathed Character:
Final Thoughts ...
I need to read this again, more carefully and slowly (and now I know the ending so - no breathing problems!). But I know I will read the Courtroom scene again.
Slightly longer version of this review
The quote above, for me, sums up one of the core issues in this book.
I've been following the author's blog for a while but only recently asked the vital question: wait a sec - is her book available on kindle?
It was.
So I read it. In roughly one sitting.
Do you know what I hated about it? Finding it difficult to breathe because of a really tense scene. It's no fun at all.
Why can't books come with something like: 'Warning: Emotional Trauma Ahead'?
So ... the plot, summarized in my own inexpert words: Eva Stewart, working for a company entitled WorldCure, is attempting to find a cure for a horrible, people-killing virus. She gets promoted at work which means that she is able to experiment on her very own Subject. But then she discovers words on the wall of her Subject! It all goes downhill from there (well, from her career's perspective anyway).
3 Things that stuck out:
1. The British Professor (Pocky, as he is affectionately known) says this wonderful phrase: 'I miss you too, duck'. Living in an area (in England) where that phrase is actually used, well, it was quite a pleasant jolt (and then later on he says duckie!)
2. The technical side; everything sounded well researched,(if it was me writing I'm afraid it would go like this: and then she did a science-y thing and checked another science-y-machine-monitor. Then she said, gravely, "... "syringe ... temperature ... antidote ... liquid ... needle ... cure ...")
3. In the beginning Eva is hardened to the Subjects - because to her they aren't human. Just a medium to find the cure to the virus. I liked the fact that this was portrayed - her hardness; she is a product of her training, her environment - and wasn't avoided.
My Favourite Scene:
The Courtroom Debate. Why? You have to read it. For me, this is the thing I'll take away from this book. It was memorable. Thought provoking.
Most Favourite Character:
Ah, this is hard; can I have three? For me, my three favourite characters are ... Mir, Igorov and (of course) Pocky.
Most Loathed Character:
Final Thoughts ...
I need to read this again, more carefully and slowly (and now I know the ending so - no breathing problems!). But I know I will read the Courtroom scene again.
Slightly longer version of this review
April 11, 2020
A thriller with a dystopian angle and interesting premise, that reads quite fast due to consistent pace, and wraps up neatly. The characters are easy to get along with, especially the male lead, and the plotline is rather cinematographic in style (it wouldn't do bad as a film), with enough intrigue to keep interest. Will Eva find a cure for the Morbus virus? Will she find out how humans are being turned into non-humans? Will Mir survive? Is there going to be closure, and perhaps justice? All questions I was awaiting answers for, and got them.
If there's something I'd consider a weakness in this story, it would be that the world doesn't reflect the premise of the plot all that well. According to the story, this is the year 2053 and the world is precariously stabilised after a highly contagious virus called Morbus killed billions across the planet (. . . Oh, joy, just like me to bumble into a plague dystopia right in the midst of a real plague . . .), and hasn't been either eradicated nor, apparently, has an effective treatment other than quarantine and palliatives. However, for a world that has lost billions of its inhabitants, it reads surprisingly untouched, too lightly affected. I mean, the institutions seem to still work normally as before, there's no hint that the world is underpopulated and there's few survivors as the "billions dead" premise would logically imply, technology and travel and everyday life seem unaffected as well. How is that possible? Just look at how hysterical the world is currently over Coronavirus, and how much institutions and governments and the economy have been hit by the pandemic, and we're not even reached one paltry million dead (and hopefully we won't). It's simply impossible for Earth to lose BILLIONS of necessary humans in necessary jobs and not pay dearly for it, much more dearly than this book shows.
If anything, the major change resulting from the Morbus plague is that bit of legislation that separates "defective" beings from healthy ones to be placed in the non-human category, which honestly is more an Eugenics gone wrong plot mixed with a pro-life stance than a consequence of the ravages of the Morbus pandemic (which, incidentally, also needed a better fleshing out; the virus isn't well described). I don't mind personally, but there might be readers out there that might not feel the same as the Christian author does and puts in the characters's mouths.
So, yes, I'd have liked a more realistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic, post-pandemic world as well as a better explanation of the virus that caused it all. I do understand that character-driven here meant neglecting worldbuilding to an extent, and was able to enjoy the story nonetheless, but the niggling dissatisfaction with this aspect has persisted.
If there's something I'd consider a weakness in this story, it would be that the world doesn't reflect the premise of the plot all that well. According to the story, this is the year 2053 and the world is precariously stabilised after a highly contagious virus called Morbus killed billions across the planet (. . . Oh, joy, just like me to bumble into a plague dystopia right in the midst of a real plague . . .), and hasn't been either eradicated nor, apparently, has an effective treatment other than quarantine and palliatives. However, for a world that has lost billions of its inhabitants, it reads surprisingly untouched, too lightly affected. I mean, the institutions seem to still work normally as before, there's no hint that the world is underpopulated and there's few survivors as the "billions dead" premise would logically imply, technology and travel and everyday life seem unaffected as well. How is that possible? Just look at how hysterical the world is currently over Coronavirus, and how much institutions and governments and the economy have been hit by the pandemic, and we're not even reached one paltry million dead (and hopefully we won't). It's simply impossible for Earth to lose BILLIONS of necessary humans in necessary jobs and not pay dearly for it, much more dearly than this book shows.
If anything, the major change resulting from the Morbus plague is that bit of legislation that separates "defective" beings from healthy ones to be placed in the non-human category, which honestly is more an Eugenics gone wrong plot mixed with a pro-life stance than a consequence of the ravages of the Morbus pandemic (which, incidentally, also needed a better fleshing out; the virus isn't well described). I don't mind personally, but there might be readers out there that might not feel the same as the Christian author does and puts in the characters's mouths.
So, yes, I'd have liked a more realistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic, post-pandemic world as well as a better explanation of the virus that caused it all. I do understand that character-driven here meant neglecting worldbuilding to an extent, and was able to enjoy the story nonetheless, but the niggling dissatisfaction with this aspect has persisted.
July 3, 2013
Monster is unlike any other book I have ever read, and it was absolutely incredible. This is why you should read it:
Firstly, the romance caught me off-guard. I usually do not like romance, since it is usually over-blown, over-written, and too dramatic, but this romance caught me off-guard in a good way.
Secondly, I fell in love with characters. And my heart dearly paid for devotion, but it was well worth it.
Thirdly, one of the most endearing characters is a professor with a British accent who drinks tea. How wonderful and whimsical is that!
Fourthly, the plot kept moving, never slowing down, kept twisting, turning, and wriggling the characters into surprising situations.
Fifthly, the highs and lows within the story were dramatic, but not over-blown; realistic, but still gripping.
Sixthly, the arguments presented actually make sense and are well-founded. This authoress has brains as well as a plotline.
Seventhly, this book that has a strong Christian element. Finally a story that does not belittle, diminish, or mock Christians!
Eighthly, the plot is a dystopia set in Alaska. Where else are you going to find a book like that? Additionally, the sparkling, brisk descriptions brought the white workplace to life.
Ninthly, the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter made it so that
Tenthly, I was riveted to the book. The first time I read Monster, I finished it in 5 hours.
Throughout this review, it has been difficult to write fairly and simply when I feel so intensely connected and in love with the characters. So if those reasons weren’t convincing enough for you:
OMGOSH, I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I LOVE EVA AND MIR AND POCKY SO MUCH!! I WANT TO LIVE WITH ALL OF THEM AND BE FRIENDS AND HANG OUT AND TALK TO THEM AND HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!
*ahem* The End.
Firstly, the romance caught me off-guard. I usually do not like romance, since it is usually over-blown, over-written, and too dramatic, but this romance caught me off-guard in a good way.
Secondly, I fell in love with characters. And my heart dearly paid for devotion, but it was well worth it.
Thirdly, one of the most endearing characters is a professor with a British accent who drinks tea. How wonderful and whimsical is that!
Fourthly, the plot kept moving, never slowing down, kept twisting, turning, and wriggling the characters into surprising situations.
Fifthly, the highs and lows within the story were dramatic, but not over-blown; realistic, but still gripping.
Sixthly, the arguments presented actually make sense and are well-founded. This authoress has brains as well as a plotline.
Seventhly, this book that has a strong Christian element. Finally a story that does not belittle, diminish, or mock Christians!
Eighthly, the plot is a dystopia set in Alaska. Where else are you going to find a book like that? Additionally, the sparkling, brisk descriptions brought the white workplace to life.
Ninthly, the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter made it so that
Tenthly, I was riveted to the book. The first time I read Monster, I finished it in 5 hours.
Throughout this review, it has been difficult to write fairly and simply when I feel so intensely connected and in love with the characters. So if those reasons weren’t convincing enough for you:
OMGOSH, I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I LOVE EVA AND MIR AND POCKY SO MUCH!! I WANT TO LIVE WITH ALL OF THEM AND BE FRIENDS AND HANG OUT AND TALK TO THEM AND HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!
*ahem* The End.
January 1, 2014
'Monster' isn't the sort of book I'll look for and read very often. The subject matter is depressing to me which can make it hard for me to get through a book like this (that is the main reason I've only given it four stars--my fault, not the author's). That said, the characters are memorable, and helped drag me through the story more than once (I read it again so I could hopefully review it better). The plot is amazing enough that I think I'll probably read it again someday, and the message is something I thoroughly support--Human life is sacred.
Some of the apologetic/evangelistic stuff struck me as...maybe a bit trite, or shallow, but some of it was also very good, and all of it was written better than I would have known how to. I think overall, this is a very good read, and well worth the time and money. In case you haven't figured it out yet--I recommend.
Some of the apologetic/evangelistic stuff struck me as...maybe a bit trite, or shallow, but some of it was also very good, and all of it was written better than I would have known how to. I think overall, this is a very good read, and well worth the time and money. In case you haven't figured it out yet--I recommend.
August 14, 2013
Review originally from Verbosity Book Reviews
Plot:
I really wasn’t sure what I was going to think when I asked to review Monster. I tend to be pretty negative towards most self published books. But after hearing one raving review after the next? I really had to try it. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.
Dr. Eva Stewart is a young woman on a mission. Her family is dead due to the Morbus plague and she’s promised herself that she’ll find the cure. She couldn’t save her family, but she was going to destroy what destroyed them. And what better way to do that than work for WorldCure on a non-human subject? Since the act was passed allowing all defective births to be considered non-human, scientific progress can only increase.
Defective humans as scientific lab rats? I was hooked. This summer has been rather dull, reading-wise. I haven’t had as much time to grab a book and I’ve not had the greatest luck at finding prize winners. Monster was different. Once Subject Thirteen wrote on the wall? Ha, my life was gone. I couldn’t put the book down. The plot was excellent, and even while I don’t normally like most Christian fiction? This was actually very good and wasn’t so preachy. Maybe a little towards the end, but I expected it and didn’t really care because I loved the book. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Christianity. I just tend to find the books rather preachy and annoying most of the time.
Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters:
Can I just say I love them and move on? No? Okay. Eva was a lovely character. I thought it was very true how she’d be so determined to find a cure because she didn’t want anyone else to suffer like her parents had. I also think it explained her actions with Thirteen when she realized that maybe he wasn’t so much an animal like she thought. He was suffering. I mean, after a girl like her had been through seeing so much pain, I’d think that it’d really, really cut her down to the core to see more. I thought she was a great and well developed character. I thought more would come of the appearance of her ex-boyfriend, but I suppose he served his purpose.
And ah, Thirteen. I loved him. He was just so innocent and caring. I really loved hearing his perspective on things. He was like an innocent child in an adult’s body and in an animal’s life. It just made him really endearing and I was sitting there the whole time just wanting them best for him and getting mad when he got hurt.
Overall? I think all the characters were really well developed. While, of course, I didn’t like them all, I thought they were constructed thoughtfully and thoroughly. And, hey, that’s what we want in our characters.
Characters: 5 out of 5
Setting/Writing Style:
I’m not as big on third person writing these days. I’ve gotten highly used to first person and prefer reading in it. However, Ms. Neal wrote her book so excellently that I didn’t even notice I was reading in third person till I was about halfway through the book. I felt like I was there, in Eva’s head the whole time.
And the setting. I thought the setting was very well done. Not too confusing. Most books have you all over the place or all over town and before you know it? You’ve got a hodgepodge array of settings in your head that are all blending together. I felt like this book had focus. We were right where we needed to be and we weren’t all over the world just to be in the world. While seeing all the technology the world has in 2053 would be fun, I think we were shown exactly what we needed to see. It would’ve been an overload and pointless to know about everything else. This book just felt perfect in all levels to me.
Setting/Writing Style: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5. I would recommend this for 14+. The book was very clean, but there was some mention of subject breeding having happened in the past. It was very vague and clean, but I’ll leave that to parental decision. If you’re interested in this lovely book (and I hope you are) you can pop over to Amazon to find yourself a copy.
Plot:
I really wasn’t sure what I was going to think when I asked to review Monster. I tend to be pretty negative towards most self published books. But after hearing one raving review after the next? I really had to try it. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.
Dr. Eva Stewart is a young woman on a mission. Her family is dead due to the Morbus plague and she’s promised herself that she’ll find the cure. She couldn’t save her family, but she was going to destroy what destroyed them. And what better way to do that than work for WorldCure on a non-human subject? Since the act was passed allowing all defective births to be considered non-human, scientific progress can only increase.
Defective humans as scientific lab rats? I was hooked. This summer has been rather dull, reading-wise. I haven’t had as much time to grab a book and I’ve not had the greatest luck at finding prize winners. Monster was different. Once Subject Thirteen wrote on the wall? Ha, my life was gone. I couldn’t put the book down. The plot was excellent, and even while I don’t normally like most Christian fiction? This was actually very good and wasn’t so preachy. Maybe a little towards the end, but I expected it and didn’t really care because I loved the book. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Christianity. I just tend to find the books rather preachy and annoying most of the time.
Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters:
Can I just say I love them and move on? No? Okay. Eva was a lovely character. I thought it was very true how she’d be so determined to find a cure because she didn’t want anyone else to suffer like her parents had. I also think it explained her actions with Thirteen when she realized that maybe he wasn’t so much an animal like she thought. He was suffering. I mean, after a girl like her had been through seeing so much pain, I’d think that it’d really, really cut her down to the core to see more. I thought she was a great and well developed character. I thought more would come of the appearance of her ex-boyfriend, but I suppose he served his purpose.
And ah, Thirteen. I loved him. He was just so innocent and caring. I really loved hearing his perspective on things. He was like an innocent child in an adult’s body and in an animal’s life. It just made him really endearing and I was sitting there the whole time just wanting them best for him and getting mad when he got hurt.
Overall? I think all the characters were really well developed. While, of course, I didn’t like them all, I thought they were constructed thoughtfully and thoroughly. And, hey, that’s what we want in our characters.
Characters: 5 out of 5
Setting/Writing Style:
I’m not as big on third person writing these days. I’ve gotten highly used to first person and prefer reading in it. However, Ms. Neal wrote her book so excellently that I didn’t even notice I was reading in third person till I was about halfway through the book. I felt like I was there, in Eva’s head the whole time.
And the setting. I thought the setting was very well done. Not too confusing. Most books have you all over the place or all over town and before you know it? You’ve got a hodgepodge array of settings in your head that are all blending together. I felt like this book had focus. We were right where we needed to be and we weren’t all over the world just to be in the world. While seeing all the technology the world has in 2053 would be fun, I think we were shown exactly what we needed to see. It would’ve been an overload and pointless to know about everything else. This book just felt perfect in all levels to me.
Setting/Writing Style: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5. I would recommend this for 14+. The book was very clean, but there was some mention of subject breeding having happened in the past. It was very vague and clean, but I’ll leave that to parental decision. If you’re interested in this lovely book (and I hope you are) you can pop over to Amazon to find yourself a copy.
December 3, 2013
Plot:
I really wasn’t sure what I was going to think when I asked to review Monster. I tend to be pretty negative towards most self published books. But after hearing one raving review after the next? I really had to try it. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.
Dr. Eva Stewart is a young woman on a mission. Her family is dead due to the Morbus plague and she’s promised herself that she’ll find the cure. She couldn’t save her family, but she was going to destroy what destroyed them. And what better way to do that than work for WorldCure on a non-human subject? Since the act was passed allowing all defective births to be considered non-human, scientific progress can only increase.
Defective humans as scientific lab rats? I was hooked. This summer has been rather dull, reading-wise. I haven’t had as much time to grab a book and I’ve not had the greatest luck at finding prize winners. Monster was different. Once Subject Thirteen wrote on the wall? Ha, my life was gone. I couldn’t put the book down. The plot was excellent, and even while I don’t normally like most Christian fiction? This was actually very good and wasn’t so preachy. Maybe a little towards the end, but I expected it and didn’t really care because I loved the book. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Christianity. I just tend to find the books rather preachy and annoying most of the time.
Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters:
Can I just say I love them and move on? No? Okay. Eva was a lovely character. I thought it was very true how she’d be so determined to find a cure because she didn’t want anyone else to suffer like her parents had. I also think it explained her actions with Thirteen when she realized that maybe he wasn’t so much an animal like she thought. He was suffering. I mean, after a girl like her had been through seeing so much pain, I’d think that it’d really, really cut her down to the core to see more. I thought she was a great and well developed character. I thought more would come of the appearance of her ex-boyfriend, but I suppose he served his purpose.
And ah, Thirteen. I loved him. He was just so innocent and caring. I really loved hearing his perspective on things. He was like an innocent child in an adult’s body and in an animal’s life. It just made him really endearing and I was sitting there the whole time just wanting them best for him and getting mad when he got hurt.
Overall? I think all the characters were really well developed. While, of course, I didn’t like them all, I thought they were constructed thoughtfully and thoroughly. And, hey, that’s what we want in our characters.
Characters: 5 out of 5
Setting/Writing Style:
I’m not as big on third person writing these days. I’ve gotten highly used to first person and prefer reading in it. However, Ms. Neal wrote her book so excellently that I didn’t even notice I was reading in third person till I was about halfway through the book. I felt like I was there, in Eva’s head the whole time.
And the setting. I thought the setting was very well done. Not too confusing. Most books have you all over the place or all over town and before you know it? You’ve got a hodgepodge array of settings in your head that are all blending together. I felt like this book had focus. We were right where we needed to be and we weren’t all over the world just to be in the world. While seeing all the technology the world has in 2053 would be fun, I think we were shown exactly what we needed to see. It would’ve been an overload and pointless to know about everything else. This book just felt perfect in all levels to me.
Setting/Writing Style: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5. I would recommend this for 14+. The book was very clean, but there was some mention of subject breeding having happened in the past. It was very vague and clean, but I’ll leave that to parental decision. If you’re interested in this lovely book (and I hope you are) you can pop over to Amazon to find yourself a copy.
Want to read more reviews like this? You can find Kelsey on Verbosity Book Reviews.
I really wasn’t sure what I was going to think when I asked to review Monster. I tend to be pretty negative towards most self published books. But after hearing one raving review after the next? I really had to try it. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.
Dr. Eva Stewart is a young woman on a mission. Her family is dead due to the Morbus plague and she’s promised herself that she’ll find the cure. She couldn’t save her family, but she was going to destroy what destroyed them. And what better way to do that than work for WorldCure on a non-human subject? Since the act was passed allowing all defective births to be considered non-human, scientific progress can only increase.
Defective humans as scientific lab rats? I was hooked. This summer has been rather dull, reading-wise. I haven’t had as much time to grab a book and I’ve not had the greatest luck at finding prize winners. Monster was different. Once Subject Thirteen wrote on the wall? Ha, my life was gone. I couldn’t put the book down. The plot was excellent, and even while I don’t normally like most Christian fiction? This was actually very good and wasn’t so preachy. Maybe a little towards the end, but I expected it and didn’t really care because I loved the book. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Christianity. I just tend to find the books rather preachy and annoying most of the time.
Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters:
Can I just say I love them and move on? No? Okay. Eva was a lovely character. I thought it was very true how she’d be so determined to find a cure because she didn’t want anyone else to suffer like her parents had. I also think it explained her actions with Thirteen when she realized that maybe he wasn’t so much an animal like she thought. He was suffering. I mean, after a girl like her had been through seeing so much pain, I’d think that it’d really, really cut her down to the core to see more. I thought she was a great and well developed character. I thought more would come of the appearance of her ex-boyfriend, but I suppose he served his purpose.
And ah, Thirteen. I loved him. He was just so innocent and caring. I really loved hearing his perspective on things. He was like an innocent child in an adult’s body and in an animal’s life. It just made him really endearing and I was sitting there the whole time just wanting them best for him and getting mad when he got hurt.
Overall? I think all the characters were really well developed. While, of course, I didn’t like them all, I thought they were constructed thoughtfully and thoroughly. And, hey, that’s what we want in our characters.
Characters: 5 out of 5
Setting/Writing Style:
I’m not as big on third person writing these days. I’ve gotten highly used to first person and prefer reading in it. However, Ms. Neal wrote her book so excellently that I didn’t even notice I was reading in third person till I was about halfway through the book. I felt like I was there, in Eva’s head the whole time.
And the setting. I thought the setting was very well done. Not too confusing. Most books have you all over the place or all over town and before you know it? You’ve got a hodgepodge array of settings in your head that are all blending together. I felt like this book had focus. We were right where we needed to be and we weren’t all over the world just to be in the world. While seeing all the technology the world has in 2053 would be fun, I think we were shown exactly what we needed to see. It would’ve been an overload and pointless to know about everything else. This book just felt perfect in all levels to me.
Setting/Writing Style: 5 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5. I would recommend this for 14+. The book was very clean, but there was some mention of subject breeding having happened in the past. It was very vague and clean, but I’ll leave that to parental decision. If you’re interested in this lovely book (and I hope you are) you can pop over to Amazon to find yourself a copy.
Want to read more reviews like this? You can find Kelsey on Verbosity Book Reviews.
July 2, 2013
I approached this book with a little trepidation. Monster sounds like the title of a thriller—a genre I tend to avoid. The actual genre of this book is something like dystopian, realistic fiction, with perhaps a little science fiction. It’s difficult to place it, since I hadn’t read anything quite like it before.
Set in 2053, Neal paints a realistic (if undesirable) future. The story begins in a medical facility in Alaska, and follows a brilliant young scientist, Eva, as she receives a promotion in WorldCure and is given a chance to run tests and experiments on one of the facility’s subjects. Her goal, and the supposed goal of her employer, is to find cures for diseases. There are darker motivations at play, however.
For a book that takes place in the future, Neal did a great job of keeping the advancements (or regressions) believable. Nothing seemed too far-fetched, from the technology to the declining morals.
Although it’s not my favorite genre, I’ve read and seen enough futuristic fiction to know authors are easily tempted to exaggerate some of the advancements we’ll have. For example, the hover cars in Back to the Future are supposed to be here in 2015. I suspect that after these next two years pass, I’ll still be waiting for mine.
There wasn’t anything like hovering cars in Monster. The new technologies Neal introduced were very small, subtle differences from what we currently have: things I can picture actually occurring in the next forty years.
It wasn’t the technology that drew me into the novel, though. There is a depth to her characters that was immediately noticeable. She has a talent for observing little but important details: those pieces of a person that give you a glimpse into who they are. The way she captured the quirks, flaws, and beauty of the characters was wonderful. I fell in love with her characters—Mir in particular—and they kept my attention through all 400+ pages.
A little warning: there are some violent parts throughout the book, and descriptions of unpleasant medical procedures, mainly within the first half. The scenes themselves are short, but for me they left a lasting impression.
Neal is skilled at descriptions. No matter where her characters went or what they were doing, I could clearly picture the scene. I have never been in a medical research facility (hospitals don’t count), but if I had any artistic talent, I could draw WorldCure. The way the scenes are painted gives the reader something to imagine without bogging us down with too many unimportant facts.
But arguably the best part of the book—at least, the part that has me replaying it over again in my mind days after I’ve reached “the end”—is the fact that the topics within it are far from “fluff”. Monster brings up deep, thoughtful subjects such as faith, humanity, and how to balance scientific facts with improvable beliefs. Neal handles each one of these excellently and naturally, with realistic discussions, mainly in the form of debates between Eva and her professor friend and mentor, Pocky. None of it seems forced, and none of it seems “preachy”.
Every once in a while, there comes a book that captures the reader so much, it stays with them long after they’ve put it down. These are rare but wonderful. Monster is one of those books.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.
Set in 2053, Neal paints a realistic (if undesirable) future. The story begins in a medical facility in Alaska, and follows a brilliant young scientist, Eva, as she receives a promotion in WorldCure and is given a chance to run tests and experiments on one of the facility’s subjects. Her goal, and the supposed goal of her employer, is to find cures for diseases. There are darker motivations at play, however.
For a book that takes place in the future, Neal did a great job of keeping the advancements (or regressions) believable. Nothing seemed too far-fetched, from the technology to the declining morals.
Although it’s not my favorite genre, I’ve read and seen enough futuristic fiction to know authors are easily tempted to exaggerate some of the advancements we’ll have. For example, the hover cars in Back to the Future are supposed to be here in 2015. I suspect that after these next two years pass, I’ll still be waiting for mine.
There wasn’t anything like hovering cars in Monster. The new technologies Neal introduced were very small, subtle differences from what we currently have: things I can picture actually occurring in the next forty years.
It wasn’t the technology that drew me into the novel, though. There is a depth to her characters that was immediately noticeable. She has a talent for observing little but important details: those pieces of a person that give you a glimpse into who they are. The way she captured the quirks, flaws, and beauty of the characters was wonderful. I fell in love with her characters—Mir in particular—and they kept my attention through all 400+ pages.
A little warning: there are some violent parts throughout the book, and descriptions of unpleasant medical procedures, mainly within the first half. The scenes themselves are short, but for me they left a lasting impression.
Neal is skilled at descriptions. No matter where her characters went or what they were doing, I could clearly picture the scene. I have never been in a medical research facility (hospitals don’t count), but if I had any artistic talent, I could draw WorldCure. The way the scenes are painted gives the reader something to imagine without bogging us down with too many unimportant facts.
But arguably the best part of the book—at least, the part that has me replaying it over again in my mind days after I’ve reached “the end”—is the fact that the topics within it are far from “fluff”. Monster brings up deep, thoughtful subjects such as faith, humanity, and how to balance scientific facts with improvable beliefs. Neal handles each one of these excellently and naturally, with realistic discussions, mainly in the form of debates between Eva and her professor friend and mentor, Pocky. None of it seems forced, and none of it seems “preachy”.
Every once in a while, there comes a book that captures the reader so much, it stays with them long after they’ve put it down. These are rare but wonderful. Monster is one of those books.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.
May 10, 2018
Age Appropriate For: 16 and up for violence, torture, and disturbing moments
Best for Ages: 16 - 25
Read on Kindle Unlimited
I remember back in the early days of Homeschooled Authors, there were a lot of people telling me about this book. I was on the fence whether it was something that I would like or not so I hadn’t bought a copy. With Kindle Unlimited, it was one of the first titles I went for, and I’m so glad I did.
I get caught up in stories easily because I have a vivid imagination. This book not only took my imagination through twists and turns. It took my emotions for a wild ride. I felt anger, excitement, joy and a lot of pain, heartbreak, and sadness. I guess the best books do that to you.
Neal is a talented author. This was her first published work and you could probably nit-pick at a couple of things, but I think few young authors could have turned out such a well thought out story. There were no easy answers given, no trite responses. She created a world where the stakes were high, and good answers were hard to come by.
I like Eva from the beginning. I felt attached to her, and it was she who took me on the emotional roller-coaster ride. I didn’t always agree with her, but I always felt like I understood her. She had a good heart with good motivations even when I hated what she was doing, I understood it. Her romance was sweet, never went beyond kissing, and never made me feel icky like so many modern romance books.
The premise and near future world that this story takes place in feels well thought out and realistic. This story might fall into the dystopian category according to some people because it is a good plan for the world gone wrong. However, this isn’t a girl-against-government story. This is Eva’s journey.
While not very graphic, there is plenty of mentions, and brief descriptions of torture and experiments that are pretty disgusting and some I would even say were mildly disturbing to me. They were important elements for the story. Unlike many authors who through things in for shock value, Neal did an admirable job of helping you feel the horror, to take you through what Eva saw to make you see what she said. Sensitive readers might want to stay away.
Eva’s spiritual journey was one I have rarely seen done better. It wasn’t quick or trite. She struggled a lot and outright thought Christianity was crazy at the beginning of the book. But as the story unfolds…Well, you will have to read it for yourself.
I could go on because I feel like this book deserves a lot more praise, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
I highly recommend this book this book to those that like stories that tug at their emotions, mild dystopian tales, and solid Christian themes.
Best for Ages: 16 - 25
Read on Kindle Unlimited
I remember back in the early days of Homeschooled Authors, there were a lot of people telling me about this book. I was on the fence whether it was something that I would like or not so I hadn’t bought a copy. With Kindle Unlimited, it was one of the first titles I went for, and I’m so glad I did.
I get caught up in stories easily because I have a vivid imagination. This book not only took my imagination through twists and turns. It took my emotions for a wild ride. I felt anger, excitement, joy and a lot of pain, heartbreak, and sadness. I guess the best books do that to you.
Neal is a talented author. This was her first published work and you could probably nit-pick at a couple of things, but I think few young authors could have turned out such a well thought out story. There were no easy answers given, no trite responses. She created a world where the stakes were high, and good answers were hard to come by.
I like Eva from the beginning. I felt attached to her, and it was she who took me on the emotional roller-coaster ride. I didn’t always agree with her, but I always felt like I understood her. She had a good heart with good motivations even when I hated what she was doing, I understood it. Her romance was sweet, never went beyond kissing, and never made me feel icky like so many modern romance books.
The premise and near future world that this story takes place in feels well thought out and realistic. This story might fall into the dystopian category according to some people because it is a good plan for the world gone wrong. However, this isn’t a girl-against-government story. This is Eva’s journey.
While not very graphic, there is plenty of mentions, and brief descriptions of torture and experiments that are pretty disgusting and some I would even say were mildly disturbing to me. They were important elements for the story. Unlike many authors who through things in for shock value, Neal did an admirable job of helping you feel the horror, to take you through what Eva saw to make you see what she said. Sensitive readers might want to stay away.
Eva’s spiritual journey was one I have rarely seen done better. It wasn’t quick or trite. She struggled a lot and outright thought Christianity was crazy at the beginning of the book. But as the story unfolds…Well, you will have to read it for yourself.
I could go on because I feel like this book deserves a lot more praise, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
I highly recommend this book this book to those that like stories that tug at their emotions, mild dystopian tales, and solid Christian themes.
January 2, 2019
Incredible only begins to describe this book. I honestly didn't expect it to be quiet as good as it was.
The characters in this were stunning. I wanted to grab Eva by the shoulders sometimes and just shout some sense into her. Or just tell her the right thing to do. I wanted to hug others, and just tell some of them to get lost. I cringed so many times at things that were done. But this book was very realistic in the way that it slowly builds towards all the changes.
And all the characters quirks all built towards the incredible theme. I have rarely read a book that made me pause and consider so much. I highlighted about half the book (or so it feels like).
My only complaint was the violence. While personally, I didn't find it too much, there was a lot of it, and pretty well described. In the spoiler is an overview so you can have an idea of what's in it
And the only other thing that might cause people some pause is
Overall, this book was amazing!
Favorite quote: "Is Eva - are you all right?" (makes sense if you've read the book)
The characters in this were stunning. I wanted to grab Eva by the shoulders sometimes and just shout some sense into her. Or just tell her the right thing to do. I wanted to hug others, and just tell some of them to get lost. I cringed so many times at things that were done. But this book was very realistic in the way that it slowly builds towards all the changes.
And all the characters quirks all built towards the incredible theme. I have rarely read a book that made me pause and consider so much. I highlighted about half the book (or so it feels like).
My only complaint was the violence. While personally, I didn't find it too much, there was a lot of it, and pretty well described. In the spoiler is an overview so you can have an idea of what's in it
And the only other thing that might cause people some pause is
Overall, this book was amazing!
Favorite quote: "Is Eva - are you all right?" (makes sense if you've read the book)
June 27, 2013
Oh my word. Where do I start? From the very beginning moment that I skimmed the synopsis of this book, I knew I would just have to read it. Once I began, I literally could. not. stop. Seriously, I was up until 4 in the morning soaking it in, it was THAT good. I had to force myself to stop and go to bed!
The characters are incredibly endearing. Pocky is sweet and adorable, Eva is passionate and determined, and of course Mir totally killed my feels with his child-like innocence and love, especially with...*sniff* all that he'd been through. He is a brilliant character.
Sometimes I felt like Eva could've been expounded on more, her background and such, but overall she is a great personality herself as well. The antagonists successfully inspired dislike and even hatred for their elicit actions.
I really appreciate the pro-life theme of Monster. In so many ways, the events in this book can be compared with tragedies that we have faced throughout history concerning misuse of human life, and the debate of what exactly human life truly is.
Overall, this book is a treasure and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Now I can only wait in anticipation for a sequel!!
The characters are incredibly endearing. Pocky is sweet and adorable, Eva is passionate and determined, and of course Mir totally killed my feels with his child-like innocence and love, especially with...*sniff* all that he'd been through. He is a brilliant character.
Sometimes I felt like Eva could've been expounded on more, her background and such, but overall she is a great personality herself as well. The antagonists successfully inspired dislike and even hatred for their elicit actions.
I really appreciate the pro-life theme of Monster. In so many ways, the events in this book can be compared with tragedies that we have faced throughout history concerning misuse of human life, and the debate of what exactly human life truly is.
Overall, this book is a treasure and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Now I can only wait in anticipation for a sequel!!
June 21, 2013
I...don't actually have a virtual bookshelf for this. "Monster" defies easy classification, which perhaps helps in making it a fantastic story across the board. While it is by no means my typical style of reading, I was carried along by the breathlessness of the plot, the dynamic setting, and, above all, the charm of the characters. The ending left me with one of those lovely knots in my throat, which is quite enough for me to say it's a splendid book. And it stole most of my morning, for which the authoress still owes me.
February 9, 2019
So...this is kind of a hard review to write. I agree with my friends who have read it that the story is very powerful and the message is very important, but I didn't love the book as much as I was hoping to, mostly because of personal preferences.
For some reason, the violence and torture and utter dehumanizing of the "subjects" got to me way worse than I expected it to. All of this was shown to be absolutely wrong, but somehow it tore me up more than even true accounts of torture and atrocities that I've read. And...it's hard to explain, but it took so long to get even flashes of light in the darkness--I don't know, it was just really hard for a very long time.
Also, there were a couple of content issues (past events) that tied into a couple of major plot points in a way that meant I was constantly being forced to think about them, which I really didn't like. Yes, they were the fault of the bad guys and obviously portrayed as wrong, but that didn't make it comfortable to keep coming back to them. And just a minor issue, but I was uncomfortable with Eva staying at the home of her former professor, even if their relationship was more like father and daughter. It just felt--off.
One thing I was very impressed with was the complexity of some of the minor characters, even though we didn't have a lot of time to explore them. Not everyone was portrayed as entirely good or entirely bad, which made for some very interesting twists--one in particular. ;)
Overall, this book was definitely very well written, and I think the theme and message are extremely important; it just wasn't my favorite.
Content--major plot points involving ; violence, torture, and unethical medical procedures; deaths, including mass murder; kissing (sometimes long and passionate); talk about propriety and boundaries; mentions of cursing (no words); thoughts of killing by a drugged and tortured prisoner
For some reason, the violence and torture and utter dehumanizing of the "subjects" got to me way worse than I expected it to. All of this was shown to be absolutely wrong, but somehow it tore me up more than even true accounts of torture and atrocities that I've read. And...it's hard to explain, but it took so long to get even flashes of light in the darkness--I don't know, it was just really hard for a very long time.
Also, there were a couple of content issues (past events) that tied into a couple of major plot points in a way that meant I was constantly being forced to think about them, which I really didn't like. Yes, they were the fault of the bad guys and obviously portrayed as wrong, but that didn't make it comfortable to keep coming back to them. And just a minor issue, but I was uncomfortable with Eva staying at the home of her former professor, even if their relationship was more like father and daughter. It just felt--off.
One thing I was very impressed with was the complexity of some of the minor characters, even though we didn't have a lot of time to explore them. Not everyone was portrayed as entirely good or entirely bad, which made for some very interesting twists--one in particular. ;)
Overall, this book was definitely very well written, and I think the theme and message are extremely important; it just wasn't my favorite.
Content--major plot points involving ; violence, torture, and unethical medical procedures; deaths, including mass murder; kissing (sometimes long and passionate); talk about propriety and boundaries; mentions of cursing (no words); thoughts of killing by a drugged and tortured prisoner
October 11, 2024
A scattered dump of (almost) all my thoughts.
When I first ran into this book on Mirriam's blog, I thought, "There is no way I will read that book." Then people started reviewing it, saying things like, "It's not the type of book I like to read, but I loved it." So I thought maybe. Then my sister bought the book.
That settled it. I spent yesterday afternoon neglecting my family while I raced through Monster.
First thing I noticed: The first two paragraphs are all subject-verb sentences. (Sorry, Earwen, is that mean?) After the first adverbial clause, I was too into the story to notice sentence structure anymore.
Despite aspects that I thought unlikely, the story is so believable. Even now I have trouble remembering that Eva, Mir, and the Non-Human Act are totally fiction.
Soooo, the romance and the Christianity weren't ideal in my eyes. I have problems with the way both were handled. But it was very believable. And it worked. The whole story worked.
My big fear about this book is that it would be too intense. Thankfully, the intensity never escalated to the point I expected it to. That may be partially because I read it quickly, but I am sure glad anyway.
My favorite thing is not that Monster shows the need to protect every human life, but even more, the preciousness, the uniqueness, the inherent value of every human soul. Within the context of Mir's story, I found June to be the most meaningful. Every sentence around that girl is breathing the preciousness and value of just being human.
It's still not my type of book (though a lot closer to it than I'd expected), but I can imagine it being really good for several of my friends. And it was definitely worth reading.
I do have one question for Mirriam. Is Eva's name at all related to the FMC of WALL-E? :P
P.S. I keep thinking of more things that I really liked (and didn't like so much). Great job, Mirriam!
When I first ran into this book on Mirriam's blog, I thought, "There is no way I will read that book." Then people started reviewing it, saying things like, "It's not the type of book I like to read, but I loved it." So I thought maybe. Then my sister bought the book.
That settled it. I spent yesterday afternoon neglecting my family while I raced through Monster.
First thing I noticed: The first two paragraphs are all subject-verb sentences. (Sorry, Earwen, is that mean?) After the first adverbial clause, I was too into the story to notice sentence structure anymore.
Despite aspects that I thought unlikely, the story is so believable. Even now I have trouble remembering that Eva, Mir, and the Non-Human Act are totally fiction.
Soooo, the romance and the Christianity weren't ideal in my eyes. I have problems with the way both were handled. But it was very believable. And it worked. The whole story worked.
My big fear about this book is that it would be too intense. Thankfully, the intensity never escalated to the point I expected it to. That may be partially because I read it quickly, but I am sure glad anyway.
My favorite thing is not that Monster shows the need to protect every human life, but even more, the preciousness, the uniqueness, the inherent value of every human soul. Within the context of Mir's story, I found June to be the most meaningful. Every sentence around that girl is breathing the preciousness and value of just being human.
It's still not my type of book (though a lot closer to it than I'd expected), but I can imagine it being really good for several of my friends. And it was definitely worth reading.
I do have one question for Mirriam. Is Eva's name at all related to the FMC of WALL-E? :P
P.S. I keep thinking of more things that I really liked (and didn't like so much). Great job, Mirriam!
August 4, 2013
I would like to know why none of the reviews is saying that this book is christian pro-life propaganda? I love books that are pushing the reader to question what define humanity, what is life, what are the boundaries between science and humanity. I didn't find any questioning; the author is christian, pro-life and doesn't give you a choice to go on her road... This book is a RELIGIOUS CHRISTIAN dystopian story. I which I would have known before I bought it because I dont represent this part of the population and the book didnt give me anything else to sustain my attention...
The only thing positive that I could write on this review is if you are a christian pro life who wants a religious fun dystopian story; you have it.
The only thing positive that I could write on this review is if you are a christian pro life who wants a religious fun dystopian story; you have it.
May 21, 2017
First I want to start by saying I don't really like books with Christian themes, to me it seems like they dumb down Christianity and make it stupid and boring. So when I started reading this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it. I LOVED it. "Monster" doesn't dumb down Christianity in any way. I fell in love with the characters, they were (are) real people with real struggles who meet with a real God.
I've read "Monster" twice now and will be reading it again in the future.
I've read "Monster" twice now and will be reading it again in the future.
April 7, 2014
What does it mean to be human? This question is at the heart of Mirriam Neal's debut novel, Monster. Deep and thoughtful, this book drew me in with its characters and kept me there with its suspenseful plot and intriguing premise. Neal has a very promising future as a writer and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us readers.
July 5, 2016
Such a beautiful book that restored my faith in humanity. In Christ all things are possible.
February 22, 2021
Wow, this book kept me totally engaged!
It’s a bit outside of my usual genre, so I wasn’t sure whether it would click with me or not, but the minute I started reading I was immediately sucked into the story. Set in the nearish future, it paints a world ravaged by a plague, with scientists taking desperate measures to find a cure. The plague and the cure for it, however, become almost an imperceptible background to the vivid characters and ethical issues the story explores.
Eva starts out as a thoroughly unlikeable and yet completely compelling character, and I mean that in the best way. I was immediately fascinated by her, and yet I wanted to slap her. She kept me interested enough to keep reading—her motivations and beliefs are engaging and interesting. But throughout the book she just got more and more likeable, with an awesome character arc.
And Thirteen/Mir…aaaaaaah. I love him so, so much. He’s amazing, okay.
Characterization in general is just really awesome. Pocky is a thoroughly likeable side character, and all the other characters that pop up throughout the story are vivid and seem to jump off the page. The plot is character-driven and emotion-driven, which is not what I was expecting from a book labeled a “bio-thriller”…but I loved it.
The Christian message of the book is…fairly obvious, but as I’m a Christian myself I enjoyed it. A reader who found that sort of thing off-putting, though, might find it a bit heavy-handed. That being said, I really enjoyed the way it explored the issues and I thought it had a fair amount of complexity and showed the reasons behind why the people on the “other” side believed and did the things they did.
All in all, a really enjoyable, absorbing story (plus I am completely in love with Thirteen/Mir).
It’s a bit outside of my usual genre, so I wasn’t sure whether it would click with me or not, but the minute I started reading I was immediately sucked into the story. Set in the nearish future, it paints a world ravaged by a plague, with scientists taking desperate measures to find a cure. The plague and the cure for it, however, become almost an imperceptible background to the vivid characters and ethical issues the story explores.
Eva starts out as a thoroughly unlikeable and yet completely compelling character, and I mean that in the best way. I was immediately fascinated by her, and yet I wanted to slap her. She kept me interested enough to keep reading—her motivations and beliefs are engaging and interesting. But throughout the book she just got more and more likeable, with an awesome character arc.
And Thirteen/Mir…aaaaaaah. I love him so, so much. He’s amazing, okay.
Characterization in general is just really awesome. Pocky is a thoroughly likeable side character, and all the other characters that pop up throughout the story are vivid and seem to jump off the page. The plot is character-driven and emotion-driven, which is not what I was expecting from a book labeled a “bio-thriller”…but I loved it.
The Christian message of the book is…fairly obvious, but as I’m a Christian myself I enjoyed it. A reader who found that sort of thing off-putting, though, might find it a bit heavy-handed. That being said, I really enjoyed the way it explored the issues and I thought it had a fair amount of complexity and showed the reasons behind why the people on the “other” side believed and did the things they did.
All in all, a really enjoyable, absorbing story (plus I am completely in love with Thirteen/Mir).
May 20, 2021
oh. my. gosh. this book was amazong. with the o.
so many feels, so much character growth and development. the romance was so sweet. I held out hope until the very last that but I suppose that there should be a cap to the number of miracles that happen in one book. anyway. this book was bittersweet, to be sure, but I don't regret the emotional wringer it put me through and it's earned it's place on my "definite rereads" shelf. I've made peace with the ending and it seems fitting, somehow, and also realistic.
I think I also might have just found myself a new author to follow and whose books to devour. after posting this review I know I'm immediately going to see what other books she's written.
so many feels, so much character growth and development. the romance was so sweet. I held out hope until the very last that but I suppose that there should be a cap to the number of miracles that happen in one book. anyway. this book was bittersweet, to be sure, but I don't regret the emotional wringer it put me through and it's earned it's place on my "definite rereads" shelf. I've made peace with the ending and it seems fitting, somehow, and also realistic.
I think I also might have just found myself a new author to follow and whose books to devour. after posting this review I know I'm immediately going to see what other books she's written.
March 29, 2018
I stumbled into Mirriam Neal's blog and found out that this book was coming out literally just a few days before it's actual release! I bought it on the spot and when it came in, I stayed up all night to finish it. It's fresh. It's thrilling. It's contemplative. It's full of love and heartache and pain and loss and rebirth. There isn't even really a clear genre to define it--it's like a dystopian sci-fi thriller with a little bit of romance and spirituality! You can tell Mirriam put a lot of thought and a lot of heart into writing this story!
May 16, 2016
This is the third of Mirriam's books I've had the pleasure to read (though it's the only one that's currently out in the world; but that's changing this year because Paper Crowns is being published! :D) and it did not disappoint.
Monster is the story of Eva, a rising young medical doctor who works for WorldCure, an organization devoted to helping people. At least that's what they tell the world. It's a statement Eva has no reason to doubt, until she encounters her test Subject: a so-called non-human designated Thirteen. As Eva's work with Thirteen progresses, she begins to doubt her belief in what WorldCure is doing and especially in its perpetuation of the idea that Thirteen is not human.
What happens from there, you'll have to read to find out. I do want to share a few of the things I loved about this book, as spoiler-light as I can make them:
-- The characters felt very real, particularly Mir/Thirteen, Pocky, and Eva. In fact, Mir is a large part of why I (and so many others I know who've read this book) love this story.
-- Eva's progression was slow and sometimes frustrating, which made her choices in the middle and end of the book that much more believable and satisfying.
-- The courtroom scene. This chapter could easily have been the worst part of the book, but it was one of the best.
-- The ending as a whole. A lot of people I know who've read this book made vague, not-quite-spoilerish comments about "what happened to Mir" and why it was not okay. Honestly, I thought the ending was bittersweet, with the best combination of happy and sad that makes me want to come back to a book the way the Gray Havens make me want to revisit The Lord of the Rings.
-- The religious/Christian elements were handled skillfully, and their inclusion did not feel out of sorts for the story, the world, or the characters.
-- Igorov. This guy was an unexpected and wonderful twist in the whole plot. I wish we'd seen more of him. (Maybe there's a spin-off in the works, Mirriam?)
If you're looking for a thriller-type book that focuses on the characters and isn't afraid to take its time with them, I heartily recommend picking up Monster.
P.S. Mirriam's even written a sort of epilogue-ish short story that you can read here. Fair warning, though: DON'T READ THIS BEFORE THE NOVEL. It makes reference to some serious SPOILERS (in addition to making the ending of the book better/worse).
Monster is the story of Eva, a rising young medical doctor who works for WorldCure, an organization devoted to helping people. At least that's what they tell the world. It's a statement Eva has no reason to doubt, until she encounters her test Subject: a so-called non-human designated Thirteen. As Eva's work with Thirteen progresses, she begins to doubt her belief in what WorldCure is doing and especially in its perpetuation of the idea that Thirteen is not human.
What happens from there, you'll have to read to find out. I do want to share a few of the things I loved about this book, as spoiler-light as I can make them:
-- The characters felt very real, particularly Mir/Thirteen, Pocky, and Eva. In fact, Mir is a large part of why I (and so many others I know who've read this book) love this story.
-- Eva's progression was slow and sometimes frustrating, which made her choices in the middle and end of the book that much more believable and satisfying.
-- The courtroom scene. This chapter could easily have been the worst part of the book, but it was one of the best.
-- The ending as a whole. A lot of people I know who've read this book made vague, not-quite-spoilerish comments about "what happened to Mir" and why it was not okay. Honestly, I thought the ending was bittersweet, with the best combination of happy and sad that makes me want to come back to a book the way the Gray Havens make me want to revisit The Lord of the Rings.
-- The religious/Christian elements were handled skillfully, and their inclusion did not feel out of sorts for the story, the world, or the characters.
-- Igorov. This guy was an unexpected and wonderful twist in the whole plot. I wish we'd seen more of him. (Maybe there's a spin-off in the works, Mirriam?)
If you're looking for a thriller-type book that focuses on the characters and isn't afraid to take its time with them, I heartily recommend picking up Monster.
P.S. Mirriam's even written a sort of epilogue-ish short story that you can read here. Fair warning, though: DON'T READ THIS BEFORE THE NOVEL. It makes reference to some serious SPOILERS (in addition to making the ending of the book better/worse).
November 11, 2016
I really struggled to put my thoughts back together after finishing this book. The first word that comes to mind is just-Woah.
This is a book that truly makes you think. It makes you feel so much more strongly than most novels you will find these days, for both the characters, and the message. The plot itself is fairly simple, but beautifully rendered, and its simplicity only seems to make the point that much sharper.
This book is dark and rather sad, powerful and haunting. It will move you at some very deep levels. If it doesn't, you aren't human.
Though this is her debut novel, Mirriam Neal's talents far surpass those of so many traditionally published authors i've read, even some more well known ones. Her characters, dialogue, description and debates are wonderfully written. I truly felt as though I had become a part of the characters' world. The ending was bittersweet, and I hated to leave them behind.
I have little doubt that, given time, Miss Neal will become quite a force to be reckoned with in the publishing world, and I certainly hope that we will someday see more of Mir and Eva
This is a book that truly makes you think. It makes you feel so much more strongly than most novels you will find these days, for both the characters, and the message. The plot itself is fairly simple, but beautifully rendered, and its simplicity only seems to make the point that much sharper.
This book is dark and rather sad, powerful and haunting. It will move you at some very deep levels. If it doesn't, you aren't human.
Though this is her debut novel, Mirriam Neal's talents far surpass those of so many traditionally published authors i've read, even some more well known ones. Her characters, dialogue, description and debates are wonderfully written. I truly felt as though I had become a part of the characters' world. The ending was bittersweet, and I hated to leave them behind.
I have little doubt that, given time, Miss Neal will become quite a force to be reckoned with in the publishing world, and I certainly hope that we will someday see more of Mir and Eva
August 24, 2016
This is such a good book!
The characters were so tangible and real. It was heartbreaking, and lovely.
Eva and Mir and Pocky and June and... and... EVERYONE was my favorite! If I HAD to choose... I would probably go with Pocky, but only if I had to. Jude.... we'll leave it at that, okay? And the other guy? I refuse to name him. (He's the evil-doctor-antagonist-dude). He infuriated me!
So, go read it. Like right now. Go! GO! GOO!!!!!!
The characters were so tangible and real. It was heartbreaking, and lovely.
Eva and Mir and Pocky and June and... and... EVERYONE was my favorite! If I HAD to choose... I would probably go with Pocky, but only if I had to. Jude.... we'll leave it at that, okay? And the other guy? I refuse to name him. (He's the evil-doctor-antagonist-dude). He infuriated me!
So, go read it. Like right now. Go! GO! GOO!!!!!!
July 19, 2013
I came into Monster with a lot of excitement, personally knowing the author does that. I was not disappointed. The story addresses the question "what is humanity, what is life?" in a beautiful way and I loved every second of it. Good job, Mirriam Neal.
April 28, 2014
I loved this book. I fell in love with the characters and the heart wrenching situations they were going through. I couldn't stop reading until I was at the end, and then I wanted it to keep going. I have read it multiple times and will continue to read it in the future.
December 27, 2013
I loved this book. I loved Pocky, and Eva, and Mir. And I wanted to kill Jude, even more than I wanted to kill Dr. Ross. Thank you Mirriam for publishing this. Amazing! Keep up the good work.
May 31, 2014
Review Coming Soon
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