Vanessa Len

Only a Monster

The sweeping romance of 'Passenger' meets the dark fantasy edge of 'This Savage Song' in this standout YA contemporary fantasy.

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.

But she soon learns the truth. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . . . . . she is not the hero.

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 22, 2022
ISBN: 9780063024649

"What a fantastic, immersive read – I couldn’t stop turning the page! An exciting, original and complex fantasy about monsters, heroes, and all the people in between.”
– Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of Spinning Silver

“This book grabbed me by the throat. Vanessa Len’s world of monsters and heroes is like nothing I’ve ever read, utterly fresh and unique. It’s a page-turning YA adventure with breathtaking twists, a rich, dangerous setting, and an incredible enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved the girl antihero at its centre, and the depth of the themes that it tackles. But most of all I love the way it turns the genre on its head. Put down everything you’re doing, and read it!”
–CS Pacat, bestselling author of the Dark Rise series

Available for order:

EPIC READS | INDIEBOUND

Vanessa Len is an Australian author of Chinese-Malaysian and Maltese heritage. An educational editor, she has worked on everything from language learning programs to STEM resources, to professional learning for teachers. Vanessa is a graduate of the Clarion Workshop in San Diego, and she lives in Melbourne. You can find her at: vanessalen.com

vanessalen.com

Tags: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal, BIPOC