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Reviews by Polly Jude

Only A Monster

by Vanessa Len

Sixteen-year-old Joanie Chang-Hunt has the perfect summer ahead of her. She’s staying with her eccentric extended family in London while her dad is away for the summer. Joanie’s scored her dream gig, working at the historical Holland House. When super nerdy but hot co-worker, Nick, asks her out on a date, Joanie can’t believe her luck. But a strange encounter while she waits to meet Nick, throws her whole life and everything she thought she knew into chaos. No one really believes in monsters, right? But when Joanie finds herself in the middle of an epic battle between good and evil, between human and monster, she discovers that monsters are real. And worse, she is one. Joanie discovers her family, the Hunts, are part of an underworld monster culture that she never even Finn has been swimming since he was a kid. In the pool, life was easy. Swim hard, follow that black line. He’s been training for a big race. He’s on the blocks, waiting for the gun, when he thinks he sees a familiar face in the crowd. And then everything starts to unravel. Questioning everything, Finn doesn’t know who to turn to. His confident, outspoken sister, Connie, who is hiding some secrets of her own. His new mate, Loki, who wants more from their friendship. Or his mum, who Finn starts to see in a whole new light. Fish Out Of Water is about facing the truth head-on. Audiences will relate to the characters and their struggles to accept the past, however confronting that might be, and to move forward.

knew existed. Worse still, Joanie discovers there are humans searching out monsters. And hot Nick from work, is leading the hunt to find and destroy Joanie’s family. There’s a devastating battle between the monsters and the humans and Joanie finds herself on the run with Aaron Oliver, heir to the great, evil Oliver family. Her rare and dangerous powers make Joanie a threat to the twelve monster families and Nick’s not the only one hunting her down. To survive, Joanie and Oliver are going to have to go back in time, uncover ancient secrets and change history. But can Joanie really trust Oliver? Joanie is going to have to become the monster, not the hero, in her own story. This is Vanessa Len’s debut fantasy novel for young adults. She’s presented her audience with fast-paced action, loveable characters you can get behind, a hero you don’t want to win and a time-travelling page turner. Only A Monster is a coming-of-age story about loyalty, courage and destiny. Only A Monster will be a favourite for young romantics and fantasy lovers. It will appeal to those who enjoyed CS Pacat’s 2021 fantasy novel, Dark Rise.

Allen and Unwin / 416pp / RRP $22.99

Fish Out Of Water

by Kate Hendrick

Text / 288pp / RRP $19.99